CIRCUS PLUNGE
Winter Wonderland horror as female acrobat hurt in circus ring fall watched by screaming families
A FEMALE circus acrobat plunged to the ground in front of screaming families during a show at London's Winter Wonderland tonight.
The performer, mum-of-one Jackie Louise Armstrong, 35, appeared to have lost her grip during the 6pm Zippos Christmas Circus show at Hyde Park, London.
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Staff rushed to her aid when she failed to get up and the organisers quickly made an announcement to clear the tent while onlookers screamed in horror.
A witness told Sun Online: “It was horrific. I thought it was part of the act but when she didn’t get back up I knew something was wrong.
“A group of people ran on to help her and people were shouting for a paramedic.
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The witness added: “I thought I heard her scream or wail, so hopefully she is conscious.
“But it looked terrible. People in the audience were coming out crying. There were quite a lot of kids as well.
"We saw paramedics rush in as we were coming out.”
Zippos Circus confirmed to the Sun Online that an aerial artist fell 13 ft during the 6pm performance of the acclaimed show Cirque Berserk.
Jackie is a very experienced artist whom we value dearly as part of our circus family
Circus Founder and Director Martin Burton
Jackie Louise Armstrong, originally from Kent, was performing an aerial act and is a highly experienced artist with 10 years in the ring.
She is the mum of a one-year-old daughter, Lexi, whom she has taken along with her in the circus, and is the partner of Valter Jonas, 33, who is a death-defying motorbike stunt rider.
She has previously told of juggling her life as a mum and the demands of a highly skilful and dangerous job, which reportedly involves sometimes performing without a harness or safety net.
Jackie Louise was immediately attended to on the scene by first aiders and an ambulance called.
She was taken to hospital and operated on the following day having sustained a fracture to the base of her spine but is expected to make a full recovery after a period of recuperation.
Immediately following the incident, audience members were asked to leave the Big Top and offered tickets for the next performance that evening.
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Circus Founder and Director Martin Burton told Sun Online on the night of the fall: “Jackie is a very experienced artist whom we value dearly as part of our circus family.
“Clearly we are concerned and offering her and her family our full support and sympathy at this time."
MOST READ IN NEWS
The Zippo Circus is a popular attraction at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland in the heart of London and is one of the best known in Europe.
Jackie Louise is a respected aerial acrobat in the business. Her skill has won her a role in the acclaimed Cirque Berserk which was the first circus show to perform on a West End stage.
She trained in circus school at 22 and joined Zippos when she graduated.
Ambulance takes injured Winter Wonderland acrobat to hospital
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