News

Actions

Nik Wallenda: "The show must go on"

Posted at 10:50 AM, Feb 09, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-09 13:09:10-05

SARASOTA, Fla. - In an emotional press conference outside the Circus Sarasota tent Thursday, aerialist Nik Wallenda gave updates on the injuries to his family members and said he will still perform at opening night.

Wallenda said he is very thankful that the worst injuries in Wednesday's high wire training accident were broken bones. "I'm extremely sore... but nothing like the other people.  Others only have broken bones. Thankfully no spine injuries."

Five people were injured in the Circus Sarasota tent while a group of eight performers rehearsed a difficult pyramid maneuver on a wire 28 feet above the ground.  Nik says he managed to grab the wire during the accident and was uninjured.  Several others fell to the ground.

Wallenda hasn't released names of the performers involved, but said his aunt is among the injured.

Wallenda said four people remain in the hospital, with one expected to be released later Thursday. One performer was released Wednesday with three broken toes.

He calls it a miracle that the results were not worse.

He says it is unclear what triggered the accident, but says somebody may have fainted while on the wire.

Nik says he has decided to still perform at Thursday's opening night performance with the approval of the others that were injured.  The pyramid maneuver they had been training for will not be performed, however.