A figure skater was seriously injured after a frightening fall during a "Disney On Ice" show in Minneapolis last weekend.
31-year-old Anastasia Olson fell during a lift with the actor portraying the beast in "Beauty and the Beast" at the Target Center. Olson was portraying Belle from the famous fairy tale.
Olson is in recovery at Hennepin County Medical Center, where her condition is said to have improved from "critical" to "serious."
Disturbing footage showed the skater seizing on the ice as medical staff rushed to her aid.
Horrified onlookers said the accident happened about 40 minutes into the "Magic In the Stars" show at 11 a.m. Saturday.
"This happened about 40 minutes into the show," said a mother named Beka.
"They were doing a lift, it appeared shaky and she fell. I am beyond grateful and thankful for the remaining staff and the performers who kept going because that preserves the magic for the kids. I know that has to have been very difficult."
Another audience member said Minneapolis is sending their best to Olson.
"We just hope that she's okay and that she recovers," the woman said.
Disney on Ice said they appreciate "the well wishes from our fans as our team member recovers."
Before joining Disney On Ice, Olson worked with Russian Ice Stars and Ice Dance International.
She has been skating since childhood and is an 11-time competitor in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, a national junior medalist and an international competitor for Team USA.
“It’s just a wonderful role (performing as Belle in Disney on Ice). Her character speaks to me so much, and I think she was my favorite princess when I was growing up. So it’s really lovely to play her,” Olson told C&G News earlier this month.
The Novi, Michigan native had plans to return to Detroit this month at the Little Caesars Arena when the tragic accident happened.
Her former skating partner, Jordan Cowan, said he is hopeful Olson will bounce back.
“I know for a fact that she’s a skater through and through,” Cowan told Local 4 News in Detroit. “She’s going to get back on the ice some day soon I know that she’s a fighter and will do anything for this sport.”
