A professional mermaid performer at Cresta Shopping Centre’s aquarium tank in Johannesburg faced a life-threatening situation when her mermaid tail got entangled, but managed a skilful escape.
Watch: Cresta Mall mermaid explains freak near-drowning incident
At the heart of Johannesburg’s bustling Cresta Shopping Centre, a seemingly routine mermaid performance turned nearly tragic.
Onlookers watched in alarm as ‘Nokukhanya the sister mermaid’, a professional aquatic entertainer, struggled underwater when her costume became ensnared in the tank’s coral display.
The incident quickly escalated as Nokukhanya’s expression of joy turned to distress. Her mermaid tail, an essential part of her act, became a potential hazard, trapping her in the tank’s depths.
Thankfully, her training kicked in. Demonstrating remarkable composure, she managed to free herself from the tail and surfaced just in time, averting what could have been a disaster.
The entire episode was captured on video and has since taken social media by storm. A TikTok clip documenting the harrowing moment amassed over 17.5 million views in less than a week, sparking widespread discussion and bringing the incident to international attention.
In a follow-up video, ‘Nokukhanya the sister mermaid’ addressed the incident.
She explained that her professional training was crucial in handling such emergencies. Describing the ordeal as an ‘unfortunate derobing’, she shed light on the safety protocols followed by professional mermaids, including the crucial skill of quick tail release.
Nokukhanya used this opportunity to educate the public on the often-overlooked aspects of mermaid performances, particularly the importance of safety. She stressed that while the moment’s magic was momentarily disrupted, the incident served as a vital learning experience for performers and audiences alike.
Here’s the video of Nokukhanya reacting to the viral video: