Stunt performer dies after medical emergency during training session at Universal Studios Singapore

A stunt performer engaged for the WaterWorld live entertainment attraction at Universal Studios Singapore has died.

The fatality occurred after the individual suffered a medical emergency during an off-show training session at the theme park.

The integrated resort operator, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), confirmed the death in an official media statement issued on 26 May 2026. This announcement followed a week of hospitalisation for the unnamed performer after the initial incident.

Lena Lee, the RWS executive vice-president of attractions and destination experience, stated that the management was deeply saddened by the passing of the WaterWorld performer. Lee extended formal condolences to the family, the show vendor, and fellow performers.

The medical emergency took place on 19 May 2026 during what RWS described as a routine, off-show training session involving external performers. The training was conducted inside the aquatic arena specifically designed for the stunt production.

According to statements provided by the integrated resort management, the performer was allegedly positioned inside the attraction's show pool around the time the emergency occurred. The specific activity being undertaken at that exact moment remains unconfirmed.

Fellow performers present at the training session noticed that the individual was visibly in distress. The cast members rendered immediate assistance to remove the individual from danger and manage the situation before emergency teams arrived.

Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered to the unconscious or unresponsive performer at the side of the pool. Emergency medical services were alerted immediately by the park staff to secure urgent advanced medical intervention.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that it received an emergency call for medical assistance at approximately 10:35 a.m. on 19 May 2026. The call originated from 30 Sentosa Gateway, the official address for the theme park.

SCDF dispatched an ambulance to the integrated resort. Emergency medical personnel took over life-saving protocols on-site before conveying the single patient directly to the emergency department of the Singapore General Hospital for specialised care.

The performer remained in hospital under medical supervision for several days. In an initial media reply issued on 22 May 2026, RWS stated it could not provide further updates on his condition out of respect for privacy.

The operator confirmed on 26 May 2026 that the individual had subsequently died. RWS did not provide specific details regarding the exact date or time of death, nor did it disclose the precise nature of the underlying medical emergency.

The deceased performer was not directly employed by RWS. The operator stated that the individual was engaged through an appointed external vendor contracted to manage and staff the live-action operations of the WaterWorld attraction.

The external employer has been described by local industry sources as a market leader in live-action stunt performances. The third-party company has not issued any public commentary regarding the incident or the death of its employee.

The WaterWorld live-action show is based on the 1995 motion picture of the same name. The attraction has historically served as one of the signature entertainment offerings at Universal Studios Singapore since the theme park opened.

The performance is widely known for its highly demanding physical sequences. These include large-scale stunts involving simulated combat, high-altitude falls, open-flame pyrotechnics, moving watercraft, and complex water effects inside a large, open-air aquatic arena.

Theme park stunt performances routinely require rigorous physical conditioning and precise choreography. Training sessions are commonly scheduled outside public operating hours to allow performers to rehearse complex sequences safely and practice emergency extraction procedures.

RWS noted that established safety procedures were active during the training exercise on 19 May 2026. The spokesperson stated that training is always conducted with safety protocols in place to mitigate inherent risks.

The integrated resort management added that it is actively reviewing the circumstances surrounding the medical emergency. This internal review is being conducted in tandem with the third-party company that directly employs the stunt cast.

The WaterWorld attraction is currently listed as temporarily closed to the public on the official Resorts World Sentosa website. The scheduled closure is slated to run until 31 December 2026.

RWS clarified that this long-term closure had been instituted prior to the incident on 19 May 2026.