A Disney On Ice skater playing Ariel from The Little Mermaid had to be helped off the rink by Prince Eric after a dangerous move known as the ‘headbanger’ went badly wrong.

The woman landed heavily, with audible gasps from the crowd as her body thumped onto the ice. Her partner also tumbled down as the move spun out of control.

Footage shared on TikTok captured the pair performing a lift in front of a cheering audience. The man held his partner by one leg and spun her around above the rink.

The move quickly went wrong when he appeared to lose control, bringing both performers crashing down onto the ice. The woman wrapped her arms around her head and appeared to be in pain.

Her partner quickly moved to her side while she remained on the ground. After a short time, she managed to sit up before he helped her back onto her skates.

The pair then headed off the rink together, briefly turning to wave to the audience as they left.

The clip was uploaded by TikTok user PlanoPlaysGames and drew concerned responses from viewers. Several focused on the impact of the landing, while others praised her for managing to get up.

‘He almost bashed her head on the ice omg,’ one person wrote. Another replied: ‘He did.’

‘That actually looked BAD,’ a different viewer commented.

The fact she was able to skate away doesn’t establish how badly she was hurt.

A separate Disney On Ice accident left performer Anastasia Olson seriously injured back in February 2024. Olson was playing Belle in a Beauty and the Beast routine at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

She fell while performing a lift during the 11am show on February 10, according to a statement from producer Feld Entertainment. She was taken to hospital for treatment.

An audience member named Beka told KARE 11 that the accident happened about 40 minutes into the performance.

‘They were doing a lift, it appeared shaky and she fell,’ she said. Beka also praised the remaining staff and performers for carrying on with the show despite what had happened.

‘I know that has to have been very difficult,’ she told the local news outlet.

The show continued following the accident, with Olson receiving medical attention. Hennepin County Medical Center subsequently confirmed that she was in a serious condition.

By the evening of February 14, Olson’s condition had improved. Olson later shared photographs of herself performing as Belle and thanked supporters on Instagram.

‘I’m overwhelmed with emotions and love from everyone over the last week,’ she wrote. She said their love and prayers had helped her through the experience.

In replies to concerned parents, she reassured them that ‘Belle is ok and recovering’. She went on to play the character again on a Disney On Ice tour in October 2025.

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