Disney World Employee Shields Children by Stopping 181kg Boulder Prop with His Body

Prop Goes Off Course During Performance, Employee's Quick Thinking Prevents Disaster
Viral Video Draws Praise on Social Media
Disney: "Focused on Supporting Recovery"

An unexpected accident occurred during a performance at Disney World in Florida, USA, but thanks to the quick-witted actions of an on-site employee, major harm was prevented, drawing attention online.

On December 31 (local time), a video capturing a tense moment during a live show themed after the movie "Indiana Jones," one of Disney World's popular attractions, spread across social media platforms such as TikTok and X (formerly Twitter).

The performance reenacts a scene from the movie in which Indiana Jones sprints to escape a giant boulder inside a temple. However, during the show, a large rubber ball used as a prop for the boulder went out of control. According to Disney World, the rubber ball weighs about 400 pounds (approximately 181 kg) and is designed to be two to three times the height of an adult, making it a massive stage prop.

A Disney World employee blocking a large rubber ball rolling into the audience with their body. TikTok capture

The rubber ball rolled across the stage and quickly headed toward the audience section where many children were seated. At that moment, a male employee, recognizing the situation, rushed to the front of the audience and blocked the ball with his own body. Although he was knocked down by the weight and momentum of the ball, his actions changed the ball's direction and prevented it from crashing into the audience.

Local netizens who saw the video praised him, calling him "a true hero who saved the children," "incredibly brave to instinctively throw himself in harm's way," and "a scene that demonstrates Disney's safety culture."

A Disney World representative told NBC that they are "focused on supporting our team member who was injured in the accident and is recovering," and added, "We are also thoroughly reviewing all safety procedures."

Meanwhile, in November of last year, there was an incident at an amusement park in the United States where the safety belt of a teenage girl riding a roller coaster that reached speeds of up to 120 km/h came undone. Thanks to the quick response of a couple seated in front, a major disaster was averted.

The couple, who were seated in the front row at the time, held onto the girl's arms and legs to prevent her from falling out of her seat until the ride came to a stop. Their desperate actions, which lasted about three minutes until the roller coaster stopped, prevented any casualties.