THE BALLOON MAN

Injured circus acrobats improve

JWEBB (@JDUBBSNK) VIA EPA

Nine performers were critically injured when a metal prop fell during a show in Providence, officials said.

from: boston globe.com

by GLOBE STAFF   

MAY 06, 2014

Eight female performers who were seriously injured in Rhode Island after falling about 20 feet during a circus act in which they were suspended aloft by their hair are improving, relatives said Tuesday.

“The girls are all OK, you know, and my daughter is OK,” said Roiter Neves, the father of Widny Neves, a 25-year-old aerial acrobat who was injured Sunday during the accident at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence.

Another performer, Stefany Neves, is struggling to recover, he said. “Stefany is the worst of all,” he said in a telephone interview.

Circus accident in Providence

Circus replacing equipment after aerialists’ plunge

Father of performer says he doesn’t blame circus

9 badly hurt in accident at Providence circus

Video of the accident (graphic footage)

Eliane Neves, the mother of the 19-year-old dancer, said she was the first girl to hit the ground, according to an interview published online by O Globo, a Brazilian newspaper based in Rio de Janeiro.

The account said Stefany fractured her heels, femur, and a rib, which pierced her liver and caused internal bleeding. She was listed in serious condition Tuesday afternoon, according to Rhode Island Hospital.

Also listed in serious condition were Dayana Costa, Julissa Segrera, and Viktoriya Medeiros, whose husband, Andrey, created the act.

read more:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/05/06/two-circus-performers-rhode-island-upgraded-serious-condition-after-falling-feet/4BT2EzAlOcQ1ZsBZFTxYRL/story.html

MATTHEW J. LEE/GLOBE STAFF

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus crew members loaded trucks with equipment on Monday, the day after nine people were injured during a performance by aerialists.