The heart-stopping moment when a circus acrobat falls from an aerial hoop and lands on the ice rink beneath her with a thud has been captured on camera.
Circus goers could be heard gasping as the female acrobat landed awkwardly after losing her grip on the ring and plummeting more than 16 feet at an event in Tampico, Mexico on January 10.
Footage shows how she performed acrobatics on the hoop as it spun around in a circle in the air to a tune from the film 'Frozen'.
After her fall, she lay motionless on the ice floor as officials turned off the lights and staff rushed over to her aid.
The audience could then be heard applauding the acrobat - named as Mia Gonzales Soto - in encouragement.
Mia - from the Fantasy World On Ice circus - was immediately taken to hospital in Tampico after her fall.
In a statement, the circus said: "Among our audience there was a female paramedic and she voluntarily gave her first aid.
"We will be forever grateful to her."
Remarkably, it added: "The fall was dramatic. However, there were no fractures or internal damage.
"It is worth mentioning that Mia was able to walk out of the hospital. She is in perfect health."
Local media reported that following a brief intermission, the circus show was able to continue as billed.
Earlier this month, another audience watched in horror as a performance turned into a bloody spectacle when a vicious fight erupted between two female tigers.
The performance at Kislovodsk State Circus in Russia had to be halted as trainers with poles made attempts to intervene in the battle by throwing props at the tigers and trying to separate them.
Disturbing footage of the incident showed the moment a tigress named Eru was attacked by a nine-year-old white tigress named Gina.
Eru was badly injured in Gina's rampage but managed to climb back onto a ring stool before collapsing in front of the audience as blood poured from her gaping wounds.
Vets are now "fighting to save her life" and the distressing incident has led to calls for a ban on live animals at circuses in Russia.
