A tightrope performer is being treated in hospital after falling 5m (16ft) during a circus event in East Sussex.

South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) said it was called to Glyne Gap Field in Bexhill at 16:45 BST on Monday to “reports a person had fallen from height”.

A Secamb spokesperson said the woman’s injuries “did not appear to be life-threatening”.

Gravity Circus said its “primary concern” was the wellbeing of the performer and it was conducting a “thorough” investigation.

An air ambulance also attended.

The woman was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton by ambulance with facial and other injuries, Secamb said.

Gravity Circus said she was part of an act called the High Wire Troupe from Colombia.

Audience member, Hayley Welsh, told BBC Radio Sussex the performer was on a chair on the tightrope.

She said: “It looked like her leg gave way. She lost balance and went flying down wrapped around the wire.

“She smashed down onto the metal floor.”

Gravity Circus commented on Facebook that the woman was “doing well” in hospital.

In a statement on Tuesday morning, the circus said: “We can confirm that an accident occurred last night involving one of our tightrope performers during the show.

“In live entertainment and high-risk performances, accidents can unfortunately happen despite stringent safety measures.

“Our emergency protocols were immediately enacted, and the performer was promptly taken to the hospital.

“Our primary concern is the wellbeing of the performer, their family, the high wire troupe, and our entire circus family.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and conducting a thorough investigation”.

The spokesperson said the tightrope performer was still in hospital.

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