Russian acrobat, 30, fights for life after plunging 20ft from a rope in a horrific fall in front of watching children, after another circus performer was injured on the same day elsewhere in the country
- Yelena Prikhodskaya suffered a cranial fracture when she plunged 20ft in circus
- The fall at Vladivostok circus was seen by children during the pre-New Year show
- Sergey Makarov performed without safety equipment and lost his balance
- The Pirate of the Caribbean lookalike is thought to have serious injuries
A 30-year-old acrobat star has been left fighting for her life after plunging 20ft from a rope in a circus fall, while another is facing serious injuries after performing without equipment on the same day in Russia.
Yelena Prikhodskaya suffered a horrific cranial fracture when she plunged from a height of 20ft in a Vladivostok circus.
Shocking footage shows the acrobat slowly losing her grip and trying to reach for the strip of material before being launched towards the ground.
![The moment she hit the ground](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/12/29/17/22771664-7834743-image-a-5_1577642193149.jpg)
Yelena Prikhodskaya suffered a horrific cranial fracture when she plunged from a height of 20ft in a Vladivostok circus
An eyewitness said: ‘The fall was very tough. The audience gasped.’
The acrobat’s assistant who had been holding the rope in the ring rushed to the stricken performance who was motionless on the ground.
She lost consciousness and was rushed to hospital where she is in intensive care, said reports.
![Shocking footage shows the acrobat slowly losing her grip and trying to reach for the strip of material before being launched towards the ground](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/12/29/17/22771682-7834743-image-m-7_1577642266803.jpg)
Shocking footage shows the acrobat slowly losing her grip and trying to reach for the strip of material before being launched towards the ground
![The acrobat¿s assistant who had been holding the rope in the ring rushed to the stricken performance who was motionless on the ground](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/12/29/17/22771674-7834743-image-m-11_1577642296668.jpg)
![An eyewitness said: 'The fall was very tough. The audience gasped'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/12/29/17/22771670-7834743-image-a-12_1577642300922.jpg)
The acrobat’s assistant who had been holding the rope in the ring rushed to the stricken performance who was motionless on the ground
![Yelena (pictured) lost consciousness and was rushed to hospital where she is in intensive care, said reports](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/12/29/17/22771680-7834743-image-m-14_1577642339602.jpg)
Yelena (pictured) lost consciousness and was rushed to hospital where she is in intensive care, said reports
The shocking vertical rope fall was seen by children and their parents in the pre-New Year performance at the Vladivostok State Circus.
The circus claimed there was ‘no defect’ in the equipment and suggested her fall was due to ‘human factor’.
The blame came as she fought for her life.
![Meanwhile ropewalker Sergey Makarov dressed in a Captain Jack Sparrow costume lost his balance and fell, in a second accident in the city of Tolyatti](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/12/29/18/22771698-7834743-image-m-18_1577642485365.jpg)
![The Pirates of the Caribbean lookalike had also been performing without safety equipment](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/12/29/18/22771696-7834743-image-a-19_1577642491131.jpg)
Meanwhile ropewalker Sergey Makarov dressed in a Captain Jack Sparrow costume lost his balance and fell, in a second accident in the city of Tolyatti
‘The administration of Vladivostok State Circus is already working with police to find out the reasons for the accident and is closely monitoring Yelena’s condition,’ said a statement.
Meanwhile ropewalker Sergey Makarov dressed in a Captain Jack Sparrow costume lost his balance and fell, in a second accident in the city of Tolyatti.
The Pirates of the Caribbean lookalike had also been performing without safety equipment.
![Footage shows the acrobat rolling across long band of material as he loses balance and plummets to the circus floor in front of screaming families](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/12/29/18/22771700-7834743-image-m-21_1577642520730.jpg)
Footage shows the acrobat rolling across long band of material as he loses balance and plummets to the circus floor in front of screaming families
![After the fall, Mr Makarov (pictured) sent a message to fans from hospital saying: 'I¿m alive'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/12/29/18/22771702-7834743-image-m-37_1577642704527.jpg)
After the fall, Mr Makarov (pictured) sent a message to fans from hospital saying: ‘I’m alive’
Footage shows the acrobat rolling across long band of material as he loses balance and plummets to the circus floor in front of screaming families.
He initially seemed not seriously hurt but later reports suggested he had significant injuries from the fall.
An eyewitness said: ‘He was without any safety equipment. It looked very scary.’
After the fall, Mr Makarov sent a message to fans from hospital saying: ‘I’m alive.’