THRILLS OR SPILLS: Nitro Circus managing director Mike Porra says safety at the event is paramount, despite two members of the crowd being injured after a stunt went wrong at the show in Tasmania on the weeekend. Photos; JEFF CROW
NITRO Circus managing director Mike Porra has declared safety at his show is paramount after two members of the crowd were injured when a stunt went horribly wrong at their Tasmanian show on the weekend.
As Orange prepares to welcome the show to Wade Park on April 13, Mr Porra said Nitro Circus went “above and beyond” what was required to keep the crowd safe.
“What people have to realise is that never, not once, has anyone sitting in the crowd been hit or injured, not even close,” he said.
“This was a stunt where two members of the crowd took part in a jump and unfortunately they suffered injuries including a broken wrist and ribs.
“We have done this exact stunt 100 times and only ever had two injuries so that’s a strike rate of 98 per cent.
“There is no big organisation like ours in the world that takes safety more seriously than Nitro Circus, especially because we’re one of the most dangerous sports in the world.”
Rider Matty McFerran, who was involved in the crash while attempting the 50-foot three-person backflip, dismissed calls for the stunt to be scrapped.
Instead, the crash has made Nitro Circus even more inspired to pull it off for the Orange crowd.
“While we take every precaution to make the stunt safe, there’s no guarantee we’re going to be able to pull it off every time,” Mr McFerran said.
“But this is Nitro Circus and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, so I’ll be back performing the trick for our show in Orange.”
Mr Porra confirmed that a full-time travelling paramedic accompanies Nitro Circus on every show and every practice.
Nitro Circus will also employ the services of two sets of two Orange Ambulance officers on April 13.
“We simply do not run the show unless we have two sets of ambulance officers,” Mr Porra said.
luke.schuyler@fairfaxmedia.com.au