They say the first rule of survival is to never volunteer for anything.

Unfortunately for reporter Poppy Jeffery, she didn't receive this memo and found herself in the Globe of Death with three speeding Brazilians.

Here’s her tale of terror...

"As we pulled up to Santus Circus at Barton’s Point, Sheerness, I began to regret my decision to agree to this.

"I had agreed to stand in the Globe of Death, something so dangerous very few journalists have tackled it.

"Stupidly, that morning I’d decided to watch videos of the heart-stopping stunt, which involves three motorbikes whizzing around a metal sphere at around 60mph at head height. Understandably, I was on edge.

"We arrived at the big top and were greeted by a team of fearless Brazilians, who had been performing this stunt their whole lives. I asked whether it was dangerous.

"The blunt answer was 'yes', from biker Valter Winterscheidt, which admittedly did nothing to ease the nerves.

VIDEO: Inside the Globe of Death

"He went on to explain how they do it twice a day and only very rarely does it go wrong.

"He said: 'I’ve been doing this for 14 years and we’re all professionals, we do this every day. You’re going to be scared going in but for us it’s not scary anymore as we’re used to the 60mph speeds. It’s only gone wrong once or twice.'

"Next I met petite Jackie-Louise Armstrong, 31, dressed head to toe in sparkles.

"She filled me in on what was to happen and before I knew it, she was guiding me into the terrifying ball.

"Stood dead centre, with Jackie on my side, two bikes clambered in and began to rev, the smell of petrol filling the already dense air.

"As my hands began to shake, so did the globe, with the bikes sending shockwaves radiating as they began to swirl and loop above my head.

"While I was doing my best to stay dead still, I became distracted by the feeling of something on my shoulder as the bikers began to tap me as they went past – as if they weren’t already close enough!

"For 60 seconds, I was surrounded and the smell, sights and sounds were incredible.

"But then in the blink of an eye, it was over, with the bikers returning to the bottom of the ball.

"Shaking and pale, I returned to the outside world with a massive smile, thanking the bikers for not killing me; I really was thankful.

"Would I do it again? We’ll have to see..."