- Were YOU in the audience? Email megan.howe@mailonline.co.uk
Hundreds of spectators watched in horror as a circus performer jumped from the ‘Wheel of Death’ at Blackpool Tower.
The crowd was evacuated on Saturday when emergency services attended the scene.
One of the two performers fell off the apparatus while performing the dangerous trick involving a rotating beam.
A spokesperson for Blackpool Tower told MailOnline that the performer was “recovering well” after being treated for a “minor wrist injury” during the rehearsed maneuver.
All 700 audience members were escorted out of the building immediately after the incident and received complimentary tickets to a future performance.
A review of the law will be carried out as standard safety procedure, Blackpool Tower confirmed.
An audience member at Blackpool Tower said the performer at the top of the Wheel fell to the ground while performing yesterday.
An aerial view of Blackpool Tower and the seafront at night on April 17, 2024.
Audience member Bazza Cooke wrote on ‘X’: “The guy landed right in front of us and went down with a good thud.”
“He didn’t seem seriously ill, but who knows. He was in a lot of pain. I hope he recovers soon.”
A spokesperson for Blackpool Tower said: “Our medical team responded quickly with our well-established emergency procedures and supported the artist until the emergency services arrived.”
“We are pleased to confirm that the artist is recovering well and is being treated for a minor wrist injury.
“The safety and well-being of our artists is of the utmost importance.”
The ‘Wheel of Death’ act has become a staple of the circus world. Performers perform balancing tricks on the apparatus and run to either side to spin it.
The law fell out of favor for a time after a series of fatal accidents, until it was reintroduced in the 1970s under the name “Wheel of Death.”
In 1994, circus performer Neville Campbell fatally slipped during a performance at Blackpool Tower in front of 400 spectators. The 20-year-old fell to the ground and landed on his head during the aerial act.
North West Ambulance Service has been contacted for comment on Saturday’s incident.
