Mermaid performer who had giant fish bite her head in front of terrified children speaks out about horrifying incident

A mermaid performer has spoken out about a viral video of a fish attacking her in front of children.

If you’ve been on the internet this week, you’ll probably have come across the terrifying clip which might have dashed your dreams of becoming a mermaid.

The video in question shows 22-year-old Mariia Zelenina, a Russian mermaid performer who uses the name ‘Masha’.

The incident occurred while she was swimming in the aquatic show at China’s Xishuangbanna Primitive Forest Park on 28 January.

Mariia Zelenina was attacked while performing (East2West News)

To her, it was a day like any other, and at first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary as she performed her set.

Having been on the job for the past 10 months, you’re bound to get comfortable in the daily routine.

Anyway, Mariia was not to know that a giant fish was going to attack her as it jutted its jaw out of its mouth and around her head as she frantically tried to pry her own head loose.

Whether this was an instinctual attack or premeditated is unknown, as Mariia had been swimming up to presumably get air as the fish was swimming slightly above her.

Mariia has since described her injuries after she was bitten.

Speaking to People, the 22-year-old explained that she was with another mermaid performer just moments before the attack.

“We had a show,” Mariia began. “I did the first solo, another girl was waiting for me to do my solo. I almost finished it and was supposed to surface, but a fish pounced on me.”

She shared that it was a Chinese sturgeon, which is a critically endangered fish and normally found swimming in the Yangtze River, or off the coast of China, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

These freshwater fish can reach up to a scary 16 feet, and I don’t think I’d like to be around one that big.

“I didn't understand what was going on, I began to push her away and get out of her mouth. When I surfaced, I realised that I didn't have glasses,” the mermaid performer explained. “I was shocked, I didn't feel anything.”

However, with viral videos come viral rumours, and unfortunately, some people began to target her place of work after the incident circulated online.

The mermaid performer opened up about her injuries (East2West News)

Specifically, reports claimed that Mariia was forced to return back to work after being injured - something she has refuted.

She explained she ‘was immediately taken to the hospital’ and was told to come back when she felt better.

“They also write that my superiors threatened me, but that's not the case either. Of course, they didn't want the whole country to know about it, but it was inevitable,” Mariia revealed.

She added: “I’m resting now because my eye still hurts and I can’t come into contact with water.”

Sadly, Mariia was left with bruises on her face following the attack but she is adamant that she is fine, despite the pain.

“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,” Mariia admitted. “I feel good. I remember this situation as a joke. I wasn't afraid of these fish.”

LADbible Group previously reached out to the Xishuangbanna Primitive Forest Park for comment.