Nine badly hurt in U.S. circus 'hair hang' accident

World News
05-05-2014 | 03:13
High views
Share
LBCI
Share
LBCI
Whatsapp
facebook
Twitter
Messenger
telegram
telegram
print
Nine badly hurt in U.S. circus 'hair hang' accident
Whatsapp
facebook
Twitter
Messenger
telegram
telegram
print
2min
Nine badly hurt in U.S. circus 'hair hang' accident
A mid-air circus apparatus with acrobats suspended from it collapsed on Sunday during a performance in Rhode Island, injuring up to 20 people, nine seriously, and shocking a packed house of spectators.
  
The all-female team with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus crashed up to 40 feet (12 meters) to the floor when the rig tethering them by the hair gave way at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence.
  
The acrobats hit the ground just after starting their "hair hang" performance with the ringmaster telling the audience, "Suspended only by the strength of ...," according to a video posted online.
  
The performers did not scream as they fell, but there was a "collective gasp" from the 3,900 onlookers who were unsure at first whether the collapse was part of the act, said spectator Aletha Wood, who attended the show with her two children and took the video.
  
Providence Fire Chief Clarence Cunha said eight women and one man were seriously hurt, with injuries ranging from head wounds to broken bones.
  
A spokeswoman for Rhode Island Hospital gave different numbers, saying 11 people were treated in the emergency room and seven were admitted.
  
Wood said the collapse stunned the audience.
  
"It was a pretty packed house," she said. "There was a metal disc hanging from the ceiling and it looked like it was being held by a single cable."
  
Stephen Payne, a spokesman for Feld Entertainment, the parent company of Ringling Bros., said that because the performers were attached to the equipment and could not let go of it, a safety net was not required.


REUTERS
Subscribe to our VOD
SUBSCRIBE
Our visitors readings
d-none hideMe
LBCI
News Bulletin Reports
2026-03-25

Israel hit by intense rocket fire from north to south as military escalates threats on Iran and Lebanon

LBCI
Middle East News
2026-02-02

Iran arrests four foreigners for 'participation in riots': State TV

LBCI
World News
2026-05-14

China 'will open wider' doors to world: Xi to US business leaders

LBCI
Middle East News
2026-05-28

Iran Guards threaten 'firm response' if US repeats attacks

Videos
d-none hideMe
LBCI
Lebanon News
2026-08-06

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

LBCI
Lebanon News
2026-07-24

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

LBCI
Lebanon News
2026-07-20

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

LBCI
Lebanon News
2026-06-26

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

LBCI
Lebanon News
2026-06-26

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

LBCI
Lebanon News
2026-06-26

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

LBCI
Lebanon News
2026-06-20

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

LBCI
Lebanon News
2026-06-19

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

LBCI
Lebanon News
2026-06-16

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

Most read
d-none hideMe
24 hours
7 days
Month
LBCI
Lebanon News
06:12

LBCI sources: Lebanon to hand former Syrian General Adel Issa to Syrian judiciary

LBCI
Lebanon News
10:16

Rain in August? Sudden weather shift surprises Lebanon: Video

LBCI
Lebanon News
12:01

Walla: Israeli military strikes Ali al-Taher heights in southern Lebanon

LBCI
News Bulletin Reports
13:19

Wanted for war crimes: Why was retired Syrian Gen. Adel Issa detained in Beirut?

LBCI
News Bulletin Reports
13:10

Diplomacy vs. escalation: Southern Lebanon enters a critical new phase

LBCI
News Bulletin Reports
13:12

Waste crisis or new tax? Lebanon’s environmental fee raises questions

LBCI
Lebanon News
06:23

Human Rights Watch urges UN to maintain peacekeeping force in South Lebanon

LBCI
World News
04:03

Etna eruption extends closure of Sicily's Catania airport until Saturday

Download now the LBCI mobile app
To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world
Google Play
App Store
Download now the LBCI mobile app
We use
cookies
We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.
Accept
Learn More