A brave circus spectator has been hospitalised after suffering a suspected heart attack during the knife throwing act.

The volunteer, described as a man in his 30s, was asked to take off his shirt and was blindfolded before being strapped to a moving board.

He agreed to take part in the stunt at El Circo De Los Horrores in Zaragoza, Spain on Friday evening – but while the first knife throw was a success, he collapsed before the second knife could be flung.

The circus show was called off and the audience were asked to leave before the volunteer was rushed to hospital.

He was reportedly admitted to an intensive care unit but his current condition is not yet known.

El Circo De Los Horrores, Spanish for Circus of Horrors, had been performing in Zaragoza since December 19 and was due to stay for another week.

Some spectators reportedly thought the drama was part of the act before organisers began using microphones to ask doctors to come on stage.

Police, firefighters and paramedics were among the emergency responders mobilised just before midnight on Friday.

Although the spectacle involved weapons, well-placed sources said the volunteer was never put in any danger, because they were embedded in a board by performers stood by it, rather than being hurled by the supposed knife-thrower from distance.

There has not yet been any official comment from the circus.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.