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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, September 5, 2008 Acrobat injured during circus' opening night in Everett By Kaitlin Manry Herald Writer While kids and parents watched the grand finale of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus Thursday night, a Chinese acrobat was injured after taking a dramatic fall inside the Comcast Arena in Everett. He fell up to 20 feet while flipping through the air from one swaying pole to another, said circus spokesman Andy Perez. He was supposed to latch onto a pole suspended from above with his feet. He escaped with just a broken wrist, Perez said. He was carried away from the performance on a stretcher and was taken to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. The performance continued after the incident. He is expected to be released today, Perez said. “These guys train for months and months and years and years to make sure they can make it every time and lessen the odds of actually getting hurt,” he said. “Once in a while the odds are against them, but that’s the risk that daredevils and acrobats take and kind of some of the wonder of the circus.” The man was a member of the 22-member Henan Troupe from the Henan Providence in China. The performers are between 16 and 23 years old. The circus is not releasing the man’s name or age. The fall happened around 9:40 p.m. Thursday was the opening night of the show. It is scheduled to continue through Sunday. “The show goes on,” Perez said. READER COMMENTS Log in or register to post new comment | Log out If Circus performer really only broke his wrist it is a MIRACLE We also witnessed the accident. My husband and I immediately prayed, and called others to pray. We also drove to the hospital and had the opportunity to talk with, encourage and pray with 2 men from the circus- a support staff and a fellow performer/friend of the victim. Several things greatly concern me about how the accident was handled. It is my sincere hope and prayer that Comcast Administrators as well as Ringling Administrators use this as an opportunity to improve their emergency processes. THIS COULD HAVE TURNED OUT MUCH WORSE... 1.HE SHOULD ONLY HAVE BEEN MOVED AFTER A NECK BRACE WAS ON, AND WITH A BACKBOARD;BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. HIS NECK AND SPINE WERE DEFINITELY AT RISK. HE WAS LIFTED, MOVED SEVERAL FEET AND THEN LOWERED ONTO A 1 FT HIGH PEDESTAL WITH ROLLERS; BY CIRCUS ARENA SUPPORT EMPLOYEES & THEN ROLLED OFFSTAGE. 2. AFTERWARDS, WE ALREADY GOT TO OUR CAR 3 BLOCKS AWAY BEFORE WE HEARD AND THEN SAW THE AMBULANCE. WE WERE SURPRISED TO SEE IT NEARING THE ARENA, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HEADING TOWARDS THE HOSPITAL!! THIS HAD TO BE A MINIMUM OF 10-15 MINUTES AFTER THE MAN FELL. 3. High school football players appear to be better protected, with an ambulance onsite for games. With the special risks of the circus performers, a backboard and neck collar to protect neck and spine should be nearby backstage at all performances- and circus AND Comcast Personnel need to know to instruct people NEVER to move an injured person without direct assistance of trained medical professionals. THE CIRCUS WAS A DELIGHT, AND WE WERE GLAD TO BE OF SOME SMALL HELP. WE PRAY FOR CONTINED HEALING AND UPGRADED SAFETY PROCESSES FOR ALL CONCERNED. PAMELA BENSON | Sep 6, 2008 2:02 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Very scary looking fall We were in the 200 level and it appeared that he fell on his head and neck. We didn't see any movement and feared the worst. So glad to hear it was only his wrist, amazing after seeing it happen. Jamie Evans | Sep 5, 2008 7:11 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal circus fall We are glad to see that the Chinese performer only broke his wrist, the fall looked a lot worse than the injury reported, he is very lucky, we saw it from 8 rows up. When he wasn't moving and after they put him on the cart to wheel him off my 6 year old daughter wanted to say a prayer for him to be OK,so she did. Kellie Cooper | Sep 5, 2008 2:41 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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