This is the shocking moment a circus acrobat plummeted to the ground when his safety cable snapped mid-act.

Performer Eric Ronald was reportedly injured after falling 20 ft (6 m) during the nerve-wracking performance in Russas, Brazil, on April 27.

Footage shows the gymnast, dressed in a Lycra suit, hooking his feet into silk fabric before sliding his body downward toward the end of the rig.

As he reached the bottom, the steel safety cable suddenly ripped apart, sending him head-first to the floor.

Terrified spectators screamed in shock as the artist lands with an agonising crunch.

Ronald was reportedly rushed to hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery to halt internal bleeding and is now under observation in the intensive care unit.

Circo Puerto Rico, the troupe behind the performance, initially claimed the incident was minor but later issued a correction acknowledging the severity of the acrobat's injuries.

A spokesman said: 'Initially, given the immediate circumstances and without full knowledge of the severity of the incident, we stated that it was a ‘minor accident.'

'However, following a detailed medical evaluation, it was found that urgent surgical intervention was necessary to contain internal bleeding.'

They added: 'At this moment, our artist Eric Ronald is in the ICU under observation. We ask everyone to join us in prayer, hoping he responds well and makes a swift recovery.'

The circus had previously faced a similar incident in 2022, when a trapeze artist fell from 10 feet and suffered a broken pelvis.

Authorities shut down the operation at the time after discovering the troupe was performing without a licence.

Circo Puerto Rico claims it has since improved its safety protocols but has not suspended shows following this latest incident.