The Disney cast member injured during a terrifying malfunction at an Indiana Jones stunt show is finally speaking out about the moment a massive prop nearly barreled into the crowd.
In a January 13 interview with WFTV Channel 9, longtime performer Robert Herrick detailed the split-second decision that left him with serious injuries after a 400-pound boulder went off track and began rolling toward the audience.
Herrick, who has spent more than 30 years performing in the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios, said he immediately knew something was wrong during a show on December 30, 2025. Familiar with every beat of the choreography, the veteran actor and stuntman realized the boulder was no longer following its intended path.
Without hesitation, he stepped in to stop it.
Herrick managed to prevent the prop from reaching the audience but was violently knocked backward in the process, landing hard on his back. Doctors later determined he had fractured two vertebrae in his neck.
Despite being widely praised as a hero, Herrick admitted he struggles with the label.
“Thirty-plus years of being on that stage that I love so much,” he said. “I love that show with all my heart. My Epic family — I love — put me in that position.”
He insisted heroics never crossed his mind in the moment.
“There was no thought about that at all,” Herrick said. “My only thought was that thing could reach the audience. It couldn’t.”
Herrick is expected to wear a neck brace for several weeks as he recovers.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! famously recreates scenes inspired by Raiders of the Lost Ark, including the iconic moment when Indiana Jones narrowly escapes a giant rolling boulder. Disney’s website describes the attraction as a high-energy showcase of dangerous stunts, explosive effects, and daring escapes performed live.
Following the incident, a Disney World spokesperson told People that the company is focused on supporting Herrick during his recovery.
“Safety is at the heart of what we do, and that element of the show will be modified as our safety team completes a review of what happened,” the representative said.
As Herrick heals, his sister-in-law has launched a GoFundMe to help support him, his wife, and their three daughters while he’s unable to work. The fundraiser notes that the family plans to donate 10 percent of the funds raised to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Northern Florida.
As of publication, more than $6,900 of the $10,000 goal had already been raised — a show of support reflecting just how deeply Herrick’s actions resonated with fans and fellow cast members alike.