Circus acrobat plunges 20ft after mistake in act, breaking both arms

Horrifying footage captured the moment a circus acrobat fell and broke both arms when her trapeze partner failed to catch her — with the audience, including kids, gasping in terror as she fell about 20 feet to the ground.Russian aerial gymnast Valeriya Zapashnaya, 34, fell when “she made a mistake in the trick” in a performance in the Russian city of Kemerovo, according to Russia’s National Security News.Video showed Zapashnaya climb onto her male partner before the two started to spin while getting pulled up into the air.

As dramatic music played, Zapashnaya did a backflip — but fell 20 feet instead of landing on her partner’s extended legs.The audience was heard gasping and screaming in horror as Zapashnaya crashed down on the floor.

The pair did not have safety harnesses during the dangerous stunt, which left Zapashnaya with two broken arms.The show’s director, Yaroslav Zapashny, said she underwent surgery on one arm. “’All circus artists work without safety equipment,” he said.

“This is an elementary human factor, she made a mistake in the trick.”Despite the dramatic fall, Zapashny said the performer was in good condition and “eager to get back to work.” The director added: “Luckily, everything is fine with her.” While she is in the hospital with her arms in plaster casts, Zapashnaya remains in good spirits.Her husband told Russian media that even though he had to feed her because of her broken arms he predicted she would be “flying again in a month.” Zapashnaya is a member of a famous Russian circus dynasty and also works as a trainer for Cane Corso dogs. Her fall came 18 months after another serious tumble, during which she also broke her arm and suffered a lacerated forehead.With Post wires....