WARNING: THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE CONTAINS DISTRESSING AND DISTURBING IMAGES
A circus performer is feared to be dead after he was strangled by a massive snake during a show in Russia.
Horrifying footage reveals a man falling to his knees as the snake – described as a either a python or a boa constrictor – wraps itself around him.
In the video, the man looks to be confident while handling the snake but then quickly falls to his knees and then flat on the ground.
At first, the audience believes it is part of the act but the video then reveals him gesticulating multiple times with his right hand — as if signalling for help.
And in just seconds, his arm movements become weaker.
The audience then gasps as they realize the performer is in serious trouble.
Eventually, members of the circus team come and pull the snake off of him but the by then — the man appears to be in critical condition.
Two team members appear to be very concerned over his condition.
Reports reveal that when the video resurfaced, it took place in Dagestan — a republic in southern Russia beside the Caspian Sea.
The Dagestan media claimed the man had died in a circus accident with one outlet revealing it was in the regional capital of Makhachkala.
But the police presence in the region denied the incident entirely.
“It never happened with us,” said a police source. “We deny this fact.”
The source added the following:
“According to the authors of the video, the male trainer was killed. But we would like to believe that young man received help in time and survived.”
Police are currently searching to verify where and when the incident took place.