Mermaid Performer Says She Was Rushed to Hospital After Viral Fish Attack

The viral mermaid performer who was attacked by a fish is dispelling rumors she was forced to get back to work after her run-in with a sturgeon — explaining she was immediately taken to the hospital.

Mariia Zelenina — a 22-year-old Russian performer living in China and working at Xishuangbanna Primitive Forest Park — spoke with People about how she almost ended up fish food … peeling back the scales on the incident.

MZ tells the outlet she was totally shocked when the fish — a Chinese sturgeon, she says — came up to her near the end of her solo and took a big bite at the top of her head.

Zelenina says “I didn’t understand what was going on, I began to push her away and get out of her mouth. When I surfaced, I realized that I didn’t have glasses.”

While many have speculated on what happened in the aftermath of the unexpected munch — including some claiming her bosses in China tried to force her back to work or silence her — Zelenina says that’s not true … they made sure she immediately got medical help.

Mariia admits her supervisors didn’t want the news to get out there — it’s embarrassing for any aquarium — but, she says she hasn’t been threatened by anyone.

Zelenina’s not putting on her flippers for a bit … ’cause her face is still injured and she’s not supposed to jump in the water.

That said, she’s not scared to get back to work … saying situations like this need to be treated with humor — and, she’s not afraid of the fish.