Disney Worker Hospitalized After Stopping Runaway Boulder During Indiana Jones Show [WATCH]

A longtime Disney World cast member remains hospitalized recovering from serious injuries after intervening during a live stunt show last month to stop a runaway prop that threatened audience members at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as reported by The New York Post.

The incident occurred Dec. 30 during a performance of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, a long-running attraction designed to recreate scenes from the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark.

One of the show’s most recognizable moments involves a large rolling boulder meant to chase the character Indiana Jones.

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular update
A Cast Member says the boulder stunt is currently cut until Disney’s safety team signs off, no timeline yet. The boulder is still visible on set in its usual end spot, just not rolling for now! pic.twitter.com/LkM6uPkQdO

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 5, 2026

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During that performance, the 400-pound prop reportedly flew off its track and began bouncing toward the seated audience.

Robert Herrick, a Disney cast member with three decades of experience, reacted in a matter of seconds and placed himself between the audience and the out-of-control prop.

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Viral video from the scene shows Herrick throwing himself in front of the boulder and absorbing the impact.

Herrick declined to describe his actions as heroic when speaking afterward to local media. In an interview with WFTV Channel 9, he explained his thinking at the moment.

A 400lb ball falls off the track at Disney’s Indiana Jones Show, injuring a worker pic.twitter.com/hB9sig2HA1

— ꧁Bobbi꧂ (@SaltyBitch_52) December 31, 2025

“My only thought was that thing could reach the audience,” Herrick said.

He told 7 News Miami that the decision happened instinctively. “I was probably out of my seat before [the boulder] went over the thing, without any thought of what was going to happen,” he said.

Video from the performance shows Herrick standing back up moments after being struck, with blood visible on his head.

Despite the apparent injury and confusion on stage, he returned to reassure the crowd, waving to audience members before leaving the area.

Herrick was later transported for medical treatment. The incident left him with two fractured vertebrae, and he is expected to wear a neck brace for the next eight weeks while recovering.

Despite the severity of his injuries, Herrick expressed appreciation for his colleagues and the show itself, saying he looks forward to returning to work once he is medically cleared.

Disney officials confirmed that the boulder involved in the incident will not be used in performances for the foreseeable future.

In the days following the incident, a GoFundMe page was launched to assist with Herrick’s recovery. The fundraising page describes him as a devoted husband and father of three daughters.

Herrick and his wife, Kim, have pledged to donate 10% of the funds raised to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Kim Herrick addressed the outpouring of support in a Facebook post following the accident.

“On behalf of our family, we want to share our heartfelt thanks for the many prayers, messages, calls, and kindness that have surrounded us during this past week,” she wrote.

“We are grateful to share that he is now home, surrounded by family, and focused on rest and recovery.”

Disney has not released additional details about how the boulder left its track, and no further injuries were reported among audience members.

The incident has drawn widespread attention online, with many praising Herrick’s actions for preventing what could have been a far more serious outcome during the live performance.

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