Trainer walks away after being attacked by a circus lion mid-show

A terrifying video showing the moment a circus performer was attacked mid-performance by a lion has been shared widely online.

The incident - which took place in Tanta, Egypt - shows lion tamer Faten El-Helw being attacked as part of the same show in which her husband Mohammed was killed by a lion in 2004.

In the video filmed by an audience member, El-Helw can be seen waving to the audience and dancing in the cage with the lions. Suddenly, one of the lions leaps down from the platform and knocks her off her feet.