Florida circus high wire accident leaves 5 hospitalized

Circus Sarasota performers were rehearsing 8-man pyramid

SARASOTA, Fla. – A high wire accident at a Florida circus left five people hospitalized with neck and back injuries, according to Suncoast News Network.

A total of eight people with Circus Sarasota were injured, officials said. They were rehearsing an eight-man pyramid 20 to 25 feet up in the air when one of the performers lost balance, causing five of the performers to fall, officials said. 

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Nik Wallenda, known as the "King of the High Wire," was the anchor in the pyramid during the practice, but was not injured. The identities of the injured performers have not been released.

"Circus people are resilient, the show must go on," Circus Sarasota founder Pedro Reis said during a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

Sarasota County officials said four of the injured performers were transported to hospitals as trauma alerts.