Fish Engulfs Mermaid Performer's Head During Aquarium Show In China

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In one video, 22-year-old Russian performer Mariia Zelenina, known as 'Masha', was in the middle of a solo performance when an endangered Chinese sturgeon lunged toward her, engulfing nearly half of her head in its jaws.

In an attempt to escape, Masha pushed the fish away, causing her goggles to come off. She quickly swam up to safety.

The incident, which was witnessed by horrified onlookers, took place during an aquatic show at the Xishuangbanna Primitive Forest Park on 28 January.

"I didn't understand what was going on," Zelenina told PEOPLE, describing the attack. "I began to push her away and get out of her mouth."

The performer sustained bruising around her left eye, but she assured that she was okay.

"I'm resting now because my eye still hurts and I can't come into contact with water," she explained.

She added that she was under no pressure to return to performing and will do so only when she's fully recovered.

According to Hong Kong News, the aquarium is operating as usual but the mermaid show was suspended for the time being.

"It was unexpected. Of course, I was scared, but a lot of things can happen in life and you need to treat it with humour," she admitted. "I feel good. I remember this situation as a joke. I wasn't afraid of these fish[es]."