Circus Accident
One person was left in a critical condition after the support structure collapsed.

One person is in a critical condition and ten others are injured after a group of female acrobats fell from an aerial platform at a circus in the US state of Rhode Island.

The accident occurred on Sunday morning during the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus show in Providence.

A circus spokesman said the scaffolding structure holding them collapsed during a motorbike hire wire act, causing the eight acrobats to plummet 10m (32ft)

The performers were hanging from their hair, suspended in a "human chandelier" formation when the apparatus collapsed beneath them.

Eleven people were taken to Rhode Island Trauma Centre where they are being treated for their injuries.

The circus released a statement saying: "All performers in the act received immediate medical attention and were transported to a local hospital for further care."

Witnesses in the audience said the lights went out after the fall, but many people initially thought it was part of the act.

14-year-old Sydney Bragg, who was watching the performance told the Associated Press that the collapse happened 90 minutes into the show.

"It just went crashing down. Everyone was freaking out. We heard this huge clatter and then we just heard the girls scream," she said.

According to the circus website, the eight performers, known as "hairialists", feature in a "larger-than-life act... spinning, hanging from hoops, and rolling down wrapped silks all while being suspended 35ft in the air by their hair alone".

The circus have cancelled all performances for Sunday. (May 4)

Officials have launched an investigation into the accident.