TAIPEI, TAIWAN—An employee at a popular horror-themed escape room in Taipei’s Xinyi District remains in the intensive care unit today after a staged performance went tragically wrong on Sunday evening. The 29-year-old woman, surnamed Ng, was playing the role of a "hanging ghost" in a scenario titled "Yongchun Hospital" when she was accidentally strangled. The incident occurred in front of paying participants who initially believed her distress was part of the immersive acting experience.

The accident took place at approximately 7:40 PM at the Rostart Games flagship outlet. According to initial reports, the performer was required to kneel on a raised mat with a prop rope around her neck to simulate a hanging. However, a suspected equipment failure or operational error led to the rope tightening around her throat. It was only when players noticed her face turning a bluish-purple hue that they realized the situation was a genuine emergency and called for help.

Emergency medical technicians arrived to find the victim in a state of cardiac and respiratory arrest. Paramedics performed immediate CPR at the scene before rushing her to the Taipei Medical University Hospital. While doctors were able to successfully resuscitate her, she suffered significant oxygen deprivation and was admitted to the ICU in critical condition. Her current status is described as stable but guarded, as medical staff monitor for signs of neurological damage.

The victim's family has expressed deep outrage, alleging that the venue utilized a real hemp rope without any safety-release mechanisms or anti-strangulation features. Her brother took to social media to state that the safety standards at the facility were insufficient for such a high-risk stunt. They have since filed a formal criminal complaint against the company for negligent bodily harm, leading police to summon two management representatives for questioning.

Taipei police have seized surveillance footage from inside the escape room to reconstruct the final moments leading up to the accident. Six witnesses, including the participants who were in the room at the time, have provided statements to investigators. Preliminary findings indicate that there was no third-party interference, and the case is being handled as a workplace accident resulting from potential professional negligence.

City officials from the Labor Inspection Office have ordered the immediate suspension of the "Yongchun Hospital" scenario pending a full safety audit. Investigators will examine the training protocols provided to actors and the structural integrity of all props used in the venue's horror attractions. The incident has raised broader questions about the lack of specific regulations governing the rapidly growing "immersive theater" and escape room industries in Taiwan.

Rostart Games issued a statement expressing their regret over the incident and promising full cooperation with the authorities. However, the company has come under fire from other industry professionals who claim that "hanging" stunts are notoriously dangerous and require multiple layers of safety oversight. The use of live actors in horror games is a major draw for the company, which operates several high-profile locations across the city.

As of this morning, the victim remains under sedation in the hospital, and her family is awaiting further diagnostic results to determine the extent of her recovery. The case has been referred to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for further legal action. Local authorities have vowed to implement stricter licensing requirements for entertainment venues that utilize physical stunts as part of their commercial offerings.

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