Terrifying moment circus acrobat crashes to ground in 'hair hanging' act

This is the terrifying moment a circus performer plummets to the ground during a gravity-defying hair hanging act.

Shocking footage captured the moment acrobat Aliane Dias crashed to the ground just seconds into her performance - with gasps ringing out from the audience as she hit the floor with a thud. Paramedics treated her at the scene before carrying her out on a stretcher and rushing her to A&E.

The performance happened at Circo Robatiny on Saturday, September 13, in Miracema, north east of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The circus said in a statement the following day: "The audience watched in shock, but Aliane was quickly rescued and taken to the Municipal Emergency Room, where she received prompt and effective care. Thankfully, she is in good condition and already recovering."

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A hair hanging stunt involves a performer being suspended in the air solely by their hair, which is tightly braided and secured around a metal ring or rig attached to a suspension cable. The performer often spins, swings around, and performs other tricks, like contortion or juggling.

The circus confirmed the fall was due to human error and not equipment failure, adding: "In this act, she is suspended by her hair from a steel cable, and the artist herself is responsible for tying it according to protocol.

"In this case, she admitted the tying was done differently from usual, which caused it to come undone and led to the accident. The reason is still unknown; we are awaiting her return and full recovery to learn more details." Despite the scare, the troupe went ahead with its next show the following evening as scheduled.

In April last year, a circus performer was filmed falling face first to the stage during an aerial act. The performer was seen twirling through the air on an aerial hoop during the show on April 7, 2024, roughly 20 feet above the ground. But during a split-second shift of balance during her act she appeared to miss her grip and was seen plummeting to the wooden platform below with a loud thump.

The heartstopping moment was captured by a member of the crowd at the O Circo Aquatico in Joinville, in the Brazilianstate of Santa Catarina. The circus performer was rushed to hospital, with local media reporting her condition as stable and conscious, adding that she was recovering.