A camel struck a woman seated in an aisle at Champion Forest Baptist Church's "Christmas Spectacular" in Houston, video shows. Church officials said staff and emergency services responded immediately and that the church has remained in contact with the woman's family. The church stopped walking animals through audience seating for the remaining shows and said it regrets the incident. The production ran from Dec. 9 through Sunday and is described as a 90-minute music-filled show.
Camel Strikes Woman During Champion Forest Baptist Church Christmas Spectacular in Houston
A woman was injured when a camel kicked her during a Christmas performance at a Texas church. (Grizzy's Hood News)
A live camel struck a woman seated in an aisle during Champion Forest Baptist Church’s annual “Christmas Spectacular” in Houston, footage from the production shows.
The incident occurred as part of a parade sequence in the 90-minute, music-filled show. Video captures a camel being led down an aisle through the seating area by a costumed handler; the animal kicked backward with a hind leg and struck a woman who was sitting in an aisle seat. Several nearby attendees immediately stood and moved to assist the injured guest.
According to church Communications Director Steven Miori, staff responded right away and emergency services were engaged. In a statement, Miori said the church "regrets that this happened," and that officials have remained in contact with the woman’s family.
"An unexpected incident occurred when a camel used in the production struck a guest in the audience," the statement read.
The parade in the footage continued with another camel and additional participants following the first animal. The church said it stopped walking animals through audience seating for the remaining performances of the "Christmas Spectacular," which the church’s website describes as a 90-minute show that ran from Dec. 9 through Sunday.
Champion Forest Baptist Church has indicated it is reviewing procedures to prevent similar incidents. The video and church statement were first reported by NBC News.
