A man has been left with potentially life-changing injuries after a human cannonball stunt went badly wrong.
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The 28-year-old, who was dressed as Captain America, was one of the performers at Uncle Sam’s American Circus in Llanbradach near Caerphilly, South Wales, where he was shot out of a cannon.
But the daring stunt took a disastrous turn after the stunt went wrong and he fell from the air, crashing into the metal fencing and missing the safety net set up to catch him.
Footage caught by audience members shows the man knocked out on the ground as his colleagues rush over to help him.
An ambulance was called and the performer was rushed to hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
Audience member Cherokee Jones said: “The show went into an early interval stating they needed to seek medical attention. He was out cold on the floor.
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“They opened up the food etc and sold it. They put the guy onto a mat and carried him away behind stage – still no sign of him awake.
"The ambulance arrived in probably about ten minutes and by the time they drove onto field the show was beginning back up.
“I left to take my son to the toilet and they were putting the man into back of the ambulance and shut the door. When we left the show the ambulance was still there and the police had just arrived.”
A statement from Uncle Sam’s American Circus said the 'artiste involved will make a full recovery over time'.
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The man was named, but in promotional material released before the incident he was described as ‘our daredevil human cannonball.’
Describing the man, the circus said: "Captain America is one of only six people in the whole world to ever attempt to perform such a dangerous feat no gimmicks no pretence his bravery has no limits seeing truly is believing.
"Captain has wowed audiences all over the globe and we are proud to be able to bring him direct from the USA to the United Kingdom."
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called to reports of an incident.
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“We sent one rapid response vehicle and one emergency ambulance to the scene, where one
person was transported to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for further treatment.”
A spokesman for Gwent Police said: “A 28-year-old man was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff with potential life-changing injuries.
“The incident has now been referred to Caerphilly County Borough Council and the Health Safety Executive for consideration.”
Caerphilly County Borough Council said it is ‘aware’ of the incident and has launched an investigation.
Topics: UK News
Claire Reid