The not so much safety net: circus acrobats are sent away if the trampoline 'explodes' during the trapeze act

Circus acrobats were sent away when a trampoline spring apparently exploded during a trapeze act.

Footage shows six acrobats from China's Shanghai City Circus performing a flying trapeze act in which an artist jumps from one trapeze to another on a huge trampoline.

Meanwhile, five other performers can be seen standing on the trampoline downstairs waiting to take part in the act called 'Time and Space Journey' when one of the springs suddenly breaks.

All five acrobats are sent to the corners of the trampoline, with one even being violently thrown several meters to the ground.

After the shocking accident, the show was quickly stopped and the audience was ushered out ten minutes early.

All five acrobats are sent to the corners of the trampoline, with one even being violently thrown several meters to the hard floor (photo below)

Circus staff later revealed that all the performers, including the one who fell to the ground, were found to be in good condition after undergoing medical checks.

The trampoline underneath the trapeze act is supposed to act as a safety net, but this isn't the first time it has failed to prevent performers from falling to the ground.

In April 2022, a trapeze star lost his grip and fell more than 10 feet to the ground in front of a shocked audience.

Eduardo Elenilson Gama, 20, broke his pelvis in the accident during a Circo Puerto Rico performance in Caucaia, northeastern Brazil.

Video from the crowd shows him falling to the ground with a sickening thud after missing the safety net.

Footage shows the artist apparently struggling to make a turn before losing his grip.

The audience gasps and screams as he falls to the ground before three circus workers come to help him. Ultimately, he suffered a broken pelvis.

It seems even more dangerous for circus acrobats who perform their daring acts without a safety net underneath.

Last September, a 25-year-old trapeze artist fell 7 meters from the top of a 'Wheel of Death' circus act in Hungary, but miraculously survived the terrifying incident amid screams from the crowd.

Raul Alexander survived after flying off the spinning device during a performance in Hodmezovasarhely, southeastern Hungary.

The fall was 25 feet and miraculously, after an initial loss of consciousness, Mr Alexander emerged with 'no serious injuries'.

Despite the accident and the trauma since then, he has maintained that he plans to continue performing once he has fully recovered.

Phone footage from an audience member shows the stunt starting as planned, with two performers moving two connected wheels in a circle, before Mr Alexander gasps from the crowd.

With no safety net to land on, he crashed to the ground and was unable to get back up as the crowd shouted.

The young El Salvadorian reportedly lost consciousness after flying off the top of the 80-foot wheel.