RI - Circus performers hurt in scaffolding collapse

[dotr]

Surprised they did not use a 3/4 inch shackle ( holds over 4 tons of weight, any direction) with pear rings to attach apparatus to shackle..imo. Integrity of gear can be confirmed with xrays before shows, imo.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=shac...es-dnv-certification-on-shackles%2F;1796;1940

 

[K_Z]

We have a circus arts school in our area, and my young teen (also a gymnast) has taken training there. They don't teach this particular circus art, but yikes! Silks, triple trapeze, cloud swings, flying trapeze, etc-- all the aerial arts-- we tend to become complacent at how potentially dangerous all this is. I desperately hope all those young women make a full recovery.

A third-generation hair-hanging circus performer who grew up on tour with his family, Williams has shiny brown hair that dangles down to his elbows. Like most hair hangers, he has a strict regimen that keeps his hair strong, including a regular treatment mixture of avocadoes, eggs, mayonnaise and vinegar.

The hair must be tied to the rig in such a way that the load of the person's weight is evenly distributed across the scalp. Otherwise, performers can literally scalp themselves accidentally or fluid can pool in one section of the head.

"It is very painful. There's a reason that not many people do it," said Williams, whose act includes juggling fire and hula-hooping while suspended high in the air. "We smile and we look like we're not in pain."

http://www.stltoday.com/entertainme...le/_afb7af0d-73fd-5fa7-82c5-4feb179bc566.html

BBM. YIKES!!

http://abcnews.go.com/US/takes-professional-hair-hanger-circus/story?id=23593385

As for pain, performers get used to it, she said.

"In the beginning, when I am learning, I feel like when they put really hot water on your hair, boiling water,'' Ayala said in a 1998 interview with The New York Times.

"The spin is the hardest -- your weight doubles. But when you see the faces on the people, you forget the pain.”

Performers say braids hold best when they're wet.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/takes-professional-hair-hanger-circus/story?id=23593385

Good video at ABC link.

 

[CHERIE.T]

We have a circus arts school in our area, and my young teen (also a gymnast) has taken training there. They don't teach this particular circus art, but yikes! Silks, triple trapeze, cloud swings, flying trapeze, etc-- all the aerial arts-- we tend to become complacent at how potentially dangerous all this is. I desperately hope all those young women make a full recovery.



http://www.stltoday.com/entertainme...le/_afb7af0d-73fd-5fa7-82c5-4feb179bc566.html

BBM. YIKES!!

http://abcnews.go.com/US/takes-professional-hair-hanger-circus/story?id=23593385



http://abcnews.go.com/US/takes-professional-hair-hanger-circus/story?id=23593385

Good video at ABC link.

who wants to do something that painful and dangerous?
An aside note....
lol, I highly doubt they SEE the crowds faces when they are spinning 40 feet up. Looks like they are spinning very fast.

 

[dotr]

We have a circus arts school in our area, and my young teen (also a gymnast) has taken training there. They don't teach this particular circus art, but yikes! Silks, triple trapeze, cloud swings, flying trapeze, etc-- all the aerial arts-- we tend to become complacent at how potentially dangerous all this is. I desperately hope all those young women make a full recovery.



http://www.stltoday.com/entertainme...le/_afb7af0d-73fd-5fa7-82c5-4feb179bc566.html

BBM. YIKES!!

http://abcnews.go.com/US/takes-professional-hair-hanger-circus/story?id=23593385



http://abcnews.go.com/US/takes-professional-hair-hanger-circus/story?id=23593385

Good video at ABC link.

Thanks for the links, hair hangers, hair tips were handy!

This is the part the 3rd generation HH said about weight that caught my eye.. ""The spin is the hardest -- your weight doubles"

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Injured Ringling Bros. Acrobat Vows to Return After Accident

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ci...ros-acrobat-vows-return-after-accident-n99001

 

[CHERIE.T]

Most of us thought the injuries were being understated.
You just can't fall 40 feet and without some type of injury. imo
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ci...aves-two-acrobats-spinal-cord-injuries-n99341

Circus performers fate is unknown.

TWO have spinal cord injuries.

snip
"Two of the eight Ringling Bros. acrobats who plunged more than 30 feet during a performance in Rhode Island have spinal cord injuries, and the extent of their recovery won't be clear for months, doctors said Tuesday.

"The patients with the critical spinal cord injuries show some mild improvement," said Dr. Adetokunbo Oyelese of Rhode Island Hospital in Providence.

"We are certain they can make some sort of a recovery but again, only time will tell." "

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Performer who fractured her spine in the 'human chandelier' circus accident speaks out after snapped metal clip is blamed for 40-foot plummet that injured eight


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...circus-accident-speaks-out.html#ixzz314ZooFiG

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Circus Act Goes on While Injured Performers Recover

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/circus-set-resume-performances-accident-23634982?source=hp

 

[AlwaysShocked]

The hair hanging sounds absolutely barbaric!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Ringling Bros. Circus Acrobats: We're Lucky to Be Alive

A quartet of high-wire acrobats injured in a terrifying Ringling Brothers circus accident thanked supporters and fought back tears Tuesday as their lawyers said they planned to file a lawsuit.

The four acrobats spoke Tuesday at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. Eight performers in total were hurt during a May 4 performance of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Rhode Island when the apparatus from which they were suspended 35 feet above the ground collapsed, sending them plunging to the ground.

Viktoriya Medeiros, who, along with her husband, was the leader of the risk-taking troupe, said they were all severely hurt in the disturbing accident...

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ci...s-circus-acrobats-were-lucky-be-alive-n133496

 

[Betty P]

Thanks for the update. I wondered how the performers were coming along. It's terrible how their injuries have ruined their careers.

My son does work for live theatre. He said with this kind of rigging, crews are always supposed to rig a second rope or cable in case the first one fails. It's widely practiced common safety sense, not an expensive or difficult thing to do.
He was shocked that Ringling Bros didn't bother to take such a simple safety precaution. They are definitely at fault in this situation.

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Circus slapped with $7,000 fine for hair-hanging stunt that left eight acrobats critically injured

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-circus-hair-hanging-stunt.html#ixzz3I9WKKPkN

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Another incident:

Terrifying moment female circus performer plunged to floor as 'hair-hanging' stunt goes horribly wrong in front of shocked children

Acrobats were performing at the Circo Hermanos Vazquez in Houston

Woman and man were spinning in circles on a replica of a space rocket

They lost their grip and the woman plunged several feet to the floor

Arena was filled with the screams of shocked women and children

The woman reportedly escaped with just minor injuries despite the fall

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...bly-wrong-shocked-children.html#ixzz3bipiZQX4

 

[dotr]

Another incident:

Terrifying moment female circus performer plunged to floor as 'hair-hanging' stunt goes horribly wrong in front of shocked children

Acrobats were performing at the Circo Hermanos Vazquez in Houston

Woman and man were spinning in circles on a replica of a space rocket

They lost their grip and the woman plunged several feet to the floor

Arena was filled with the screams of shocked women and children

The woman reportedly escaped with just minor injuries despite the fall

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...bly-wrong-shocked-children.html#ixzz3bipiZQX4

Hope the woman is ok.
Raw footage..

[video=youtube;XJ6X6w7RQjE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ6X6w7RQjE[/video]