A teenage gymnast has been left in a coma and fighting for their life after suffering serious head injuries while performing at a circus in Russia.
Alexey Sh, 14, was performing spins and swinging from high wires when a snapped cable caused his belt to come loose and he plunged to the ground in front of horrified onlookers in Zarechny, which is in the Sverdlovsk region.
The top gymnast's young partner was watching along while in the circus ring as part of the show but can be seen fleeing backstage, clearly shocked and distraught by the events, after his horror fall.
The teenager laid motionless on the ground of the studio as emergency medics rushed to his side to try and safe his life and prevent any serious injury.
Alexey required emergency life-saving skull surgery and is set to be moved to a specialist hospital.
Footage from the bone-chilling fall show other young gymnasts from Mash Ural media watching on in horror as the medical team are performing first aid on the performer just seconds after his fall.
The young group of people are ushered away from the distressing scene.
A female singer continues performing but suddenly turns and realises there has been a terrible accident behind her.
Since the accident, the show has been halted and the talented gymnast remains in hospital in an artificial coma as doctors study his condition and hope for his recovery.
A report has revealed he suffered "brain contusions and a fracture of his temporal bone".
The gymnast had been to London on a tour in 2017 with his female partner, and a picture shows them outside Buckingham Palace.
The boy’s mother works at the circus headquarters but was on vacation and did not witness the fall, according to local reports.
Police have began investigating the incident, including seizing the "defective equipment" which may had led to the fall, as well as analysing footage from the incident.
A criminal case has been opened into “providing services that do not meet safety requirements” and “negligently entail the infliction of grievous bodily harm to the victim”, it was reported.
A statement said: “An investigation is underway.”
The maximum punishment is up to six years in jail.
