(KTLA) — A Disney cast member is being praised as a hero after he was injured while stopping a runaway prop boulder from rolling into the audience during a live stunt show in Florida.
The frightening moment happened on Tuesday during Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, according to Nexstar reporter Scott Gustin.
Video of the incident shows the large boulder — used in the show’s iconic opening sequence — rolling down its usual track before suddenly veering off course toward seated guests. A cast member is seen sprinting toward the prop and using his body to stop it just before it reaches the crowd. According to a Disney blog post, the prop boulder weighs 400 pounds.
The boulder slams into the cast member, knocking him to the ground, but his actions successfully halt the prop’s momentum. Another cast member immediately runs in to assist as the video ends.
Disney told Gustin that the injured employee received immediate medical attention and is recovering. The company said its safety team is reviewing the incident.
A Disney spokesperson also told Nexstar that the stunt show will be “modified” in the wake of the incident, but did not provide additional details.
“We’re focused on supporting our cast member, who is recovering,” reads a statement shared with Nexstar. “Safety is at the heart of what we do, and that element of the show will be modified as our safety team completes a review of what happened.”
The prop is designed to recreate the famous opening scene from “Raiders of the Lost Ark” in which Indiana Jones narrowly escapes a massive rolling boulder.
An X user identified as Ashley Suit told Gustin that the cast member is her friend, Robert, and that he is a former stunt performer. She said he required six stitches and was recovering in the hospital.
“His quick thinking saved many,” Suit wrote. “Please keep him in your prayers.”
The incident has since gone viral, with many viewers praising the cast member’s instincts and bravery in preventing what could have been a far more serious outcome.