This is the moment a circus performer narrowly dodged death after falling 30ft from a giant spinning wheel.
Acrobat Navas Haurigui, 23, was minutes into his act at Gandeys Circus when he tumbed out of the Double Giant Spinning Wheel.
Footage from the circus’ opening night shows Navas, who goes by the name Howie, struggling to keep his balance in the giant wheel.
The fall was met by a screams from the audience in Guernsey before crew rushed to help the acrobat who later said he thought he was going to die.
Paramedics rushed him to hospital – and astonishingly lucky Howie escaped with bruising.
Audience member Vicki Bennalick, 31, captured the horrifying moment on camera on Tuesday.
The cake decorator said: “The space wheels were the last act and it was introduced to the audience as the only one in the UK and Guernsey without any safety nets or lines.
“They didn’t get far into the performance before something went wrong.
“The circus performer seemed to time his landing in the wheel slightly wrong which caused him to lose his rhythm and fall out of it.
“The audience gasped and were very shocked.
“I quickly stopped filmed as I was there with my children and aside from worrying about the performer, my first priority was to reassure the kids.
“The Gandey family acted fast.
“The lights went up so they could get to him then they quickly put a spotlight on the ringmaster who reassured everyone. It was a good distraction for the kids.
“Two minutes after his fall, two other circus performers performed in the back wheels. It was very much ‘the show must go on’!
Vicki, who was at the show with partner Martin Campbell, 40, step-daughter Krystal, 20, step-son Zack, 11, and kids Maisy, 5, and Alex, 3, added: “Before we left we were told he was conscious and an ambulance was outside.
“I’m just glad he is OK.”
Defiant Howie, from Columbia, has vowed to be back performing today (Thursday).
He said: “When I was going to fall, I thought I was going to die. I fell on my back and hit my head on the floor, but has not discouraged me.
“I feel good – no problem.”
