Shocking video shows a Chinese zoo dancer being engulfed in fire during a live performance — with her running to jump into a river to put out the flames.
The dancer’s red dress caught alight soon after she started a fire dance – a Chinese ancient folk tradition – at the Nantong Forest Safari Park near Shanghai last Wednesday, video shared by Shanghai Daily shows.
She was supposed to dance safely in between two lit hoops — but the fires quickly raced up her dress.
After just two twirls, the terrified dancer sprinted toward a nearby river in a desperate bid to avoid being fully consumed by the flames.
She made it to the water around 11 seconds after her dress caught fire.
Officials at the zoo, home to almost 20,000 animals and more than 300 species, said the dancer wasn’t seriously injured.
They have not confirmed if that part of the show will return.
