When Ivan Mladenov lost control of his bike while performing a circus trick, his life hung in the balance.
The 31-year-old had enjoyed a successful 15 years in the circus, performing for audiences all over the country. But last summer, he suffered life threatening injuries after misjudging one of his turns on a stunt known as 'The Globe of Doom'.
After breaking every bone in his face and multiple bones in his body, Ivan was forced to spend months in hospital, leaving his future uncertain. But tonight, he returns to the circus in Bury looking to wow audiences with a heartstopping new record - and told the Manchester Evening News he 'can't wait'.
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"I'm feeling great," Ivan said. "I'm so ready for the new audience, and to see how they'll react. I've performed in Bury twice before, and I'm excited to be back."
The stuntman added he was '99 per cent recovered' from his devastating injuries but admitted he still had 'a few mental things to fight with'.
"The accident was really, really bad," he said. "I nearly lost my life. It changed my life." But he said being left uncertain about his surivial - let alone his return to the circus - made him 'appreciate the little things' in life.
He has been training for months for tonight's performance, which will see him take to the stage with Circus Funtasia in Bury. Despite his terrifying ordeal, he is determined to get back to his daredevil ways.
He is aiming to break a new record on 'The Wheel of Death' - a large hamster type pendulum spanning over 9 meters wide swinging around the bigtop.
"I am going to show the audience that I am the only man in the country that can perform three somersaults on the wheel," he said.
"They will be amazed!"
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