Colombian Haurigui Navas, 23, was performing in the double giant space wheel, a large rotating apparatus on which performers carry out synchronised acrobatics and which can travel up to 50mph.
He was part-way through the routine with three other performers when timing went out of sync and he fell from his steel mesh pod.
The lights were dimmed and quickly the spotlight was turned on the ringmaster.
Initial concerns were that Mr Navas may have broken a leg or hip.
There were fears for his career until he was told by hospital staff that he had just suffered severe bruising.
‘I said thank you God,’ said Mr Navas. ‘I am so happy, because I have not broken anything and have no bad injuries.
‘I am good, but in pain.
‘I have loved all the well wishes I have had from everyone.’
Mr Navas has been performing with his group, The Gerlings, for five years and this was his first accident.
General manager and ringmaster Robert Price said Mr Navas was lucky to have not suffered further injury, but added that he was trained in what to do in such a situation.
‘Luckily, he is very fit and trained in how to fall,’ said Mr Price.
‘If he has the time, he can twist his body to try and land properly.
‘Which is exactly what he did, it would have been a head first fall otherwise.’
Mr Price added: ‘This is one of the risks they take and these things happen.
‘This sort of danger is all part of the circus, it’s why people come and see it.’
One of the opening night audience. Vicki Bennalick, said that the incident was shocking, but circus staff dealt with it swiftly.
‘The audience reacted with a sudden breath and a few shocked words, said Mrs Bennalick.
‘Most of us were there with children and other than your concern for the performer in an incident like that, your first thoughts are with distracting your children and ensuring they aren’t scared by it.
‘As soon as he fell the music stopped and lights went up for his team to get to him, then the spotlight was on the ringmaster who reassured everyone.
‘It was an unfortunate accident out of anyone’s control and these things can happen in live shows, I’m just glad he was OK.
‘The Gandey family dealt with it swiftly and professionally, you can’t fault their actions.
‘Two of the performers went back in the other wheel and did a final act.’
An ambulance was on the scene just four minutes after the accident.
A St John spokesman said: ‘On Monday evening the St John Emergency Ambulance Service was called to assist a circus artiste who had fallen from a giant space wheel during a performance at Victoria Avenue.
‘An emergency ambulance, crewed by a paramedic and an emergency care assistant, arrived at the incident just four minutes after the service was alerted.
‘The St John staff assessed and examined the male patient on scene.
‘Given the nature of the incident, and the fact that the casualty had fallen from a height, he was immobilised as a precaution before being transferred to the Emergency Department of the Princess Elizabeth Hospital for further checks and treatment.
‘Binky Beaumont, from Gandey’s Circus, has released a statement about the incident this morning and we are pleased to read that the performer is now out of hospital and resting at his hotel.’
Mr Navas will likely be out of action for a few days but may come into the ring during upcoming performances to reassure the public of his condition.
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