This is the terrifying moment a mermaid performer passes out underwater and sinks apparently lifeless to the bottom in front of an audience of horrified children.

The performer, wearing a mermaid tail, appears to convulse underwater and makes no effort to return to the surface. 

It later emerged that the audience first mistook the drama as part of the performance but quickly realised something was wrong and called for help after about 20 seconds. 

Then a park worker from the Taiyuan Ocean World amusement park wearing swimming goggles leaps in and struggles to drag her back up to the surface.

It takes an agonisingly long two minutes before he manages to pull her up so her head is out of the water, during which the performer does not move at all.

As he waits for others to pull her out, he is seen perched on the rails of a prop shipwreck while he struggles to keep her upright before the footage ends.

Local media reports said that the performer was rushed to hospital on Friday where she was put under observation.

Taiyuan Ocean World, based in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China, later said that the performer was hypoglycaemic and had fainted due to low blood sugar.

A mermaid performer passed out underwater after appearing to convulse but audience members don't respond for 20 seconds, initially thinking it is part of the performance

A mermaid performer passed out underwater after appearing to convulse but audience members don’t respond for 20 seconds, initially thinking it is part of the performance

Then a park worker from the Taiyuan Ocean World amusement park wearing swimming goggles leaps in and struggles to drag her back up to the surface

Then a park worker from the Taiyuan Ocean World amusement park wearing swimming goggles leaps in and struggles to drag her back up to the surface

It takes an agonisingly long two minutes before he manages to pull her up so her head is out of the water, during which the performer does not move at all

It takes an agonisingly long two minutes before he manages to pull her up so her head is out of the water, during which the performer does not move at all

They said that the performer, who has not been named, is recovering and is currently under observation.

The theme park added that it had suspended all performances to conduct a safety inspection.

The harrowing footage comes nearly two years after another shocking incident from China’s mermaid performances. 

A woman in a ‘mermaid contest’ was mauled by a shark in an aquarium in Jiangsu as she started swimming for the surface.

The beast suddenly lurches towards the performer and chomps down on her arm.

Following the attack on June 19 2023, Ms Li was rushed to hospital where she underwent a five-hour operation and over 100 stitches.

The injury was so deep that her bone was exposed and medics recovered a shark tooth.

It also left Ms Li with permanent damage to her hand nearly two years later.

The performer, who has not been named, is said to be recovering and is currently under observation

The performer, who has not been named, is said to be recovering and is currently under observation

A second, horrifying video shows the graphic aftermath of the attack with Ms Li’s arm bloody and requiring multiple stitches. 

Now, Ms Li has filed a complaint against the aquarium after they failed to reach a compensation agreement. 

Insiders to the Chinese mermaid industry have said they are being subjected to grueling, near-slave-like conditions, forced to perform for hours on end in hazardous environments, and denied medical care – all for a pittance in pay.

According to the SHOT channel on Telegram, swimmers have been subject to diving up to 70 times a day, even with injuries that they are forbidden to treat in hospital.

Just over three months ago, one real-life mermaid suffered horrific wounds in an unprecedented attack launched by a giant fish while she performed in front of families and small children.

The 'mermaid', known only as 22-year-old Russian performer Masha, wounded her head, neck and eye, according to reports

The ‘mermaid’, known only as 22-year-old Russian performer Masha, wounded her head, neck and eye, according to reports

Masha waves to families as fish swim past her but as she slowly moves to the surface a giant creature bobs above her head. It then suddenly clasps its huge jaws around her face

Masha waves to families as fish swim past her but as she slowly moves to the surface a giant creature bobs above her head. It then suddenly clasps its huge jaws around her face

Having a sturgeon chomp down on her head, she was left with facial wounds but cruel bosses allegedly made her get straight back into the water before she made a full recovery.

Figures last year showed a worrying rise in the number of men and women signing themselves up to be mythical divers with the world’s first international professional mermaid competition held last year in Shanghai.

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