A father from Cefn Fforest was knocked out cold at a Blackwood circus when a stunt went horribly wrong.
Ben Garnham, 37, took his two daughters to the circus show on Monday May 9, when he was pulled out of the crowd by a clown.
The clown, Ben Coles, tried an acrobatic trick where he would flip over Mr Garnham’s shoulder, but failed to get a full rotation and landed on Mr Garham’s head, knocking him unconscious.
An ambulance was called to the big top in Blackwood, where Circus Zyair was performing.
Mr Garnham was taken to hospital in a neck brace – and spent four hours being treated for cuts and bruises and checked for head injuries.
The father-of-three said: “It is all a blur but from what I remember, he didn’t explain what he was actually going to do.
“He said push against the back of my legs and that was the last thing I really remember.
“I just thought he was going to pretend to do something but not actually do it to get a laugh. I thought he was just going to squirt me with water or something.
“It looked more like a wrestling move, not like he was going to flip me over.”
Self-employed DJ Mr Garnham landed on his head in the melee and blacked out. Crowds then watched as other circus workers dashed in and “manhandled” him as he lay injured on the floor.
He said at no point was he asked to sign a disclaimer before performing the trick – which was filmed by his daughter Amber, 19.
Mr Garnham said: “I was unconscious right until they put me behind the curtain. They lifted me out and I was manhandled – they could’ve paralysed me for life.
“I’m so lucky. I could’ve died or been paralysed. I wouldn’t have seen the funny side if I was paralysed from the neck down or I was dead.
“There were dozens of families watching in the crowd and everyone seemed very worried.”
Circus Zyair describes itself as a “colourful and action packed” hour-and-a-half show with “high energy acts” from around the world. Clown Ben Coles had performed the trick “many times” without hitch.
He rang Mr Garnham to apologise – and said he was “in shock, and hadn’t slept” after the accident.
Meanwhile, circus organisers have apologised to Mr Garnham and offered a refund and free tickets to their next show.
I went to this circus last weekend and the entire night was absolutely brilliant. The trick the clown performed went without a hitch that time but I was exceedingly glad he didn’t pick me to perform with him. I’m very sorry for the bloke but it is still a very good act and a brilliant night.