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Potter stunt double feared paralysed
Benedict Moore-Bridger29.01.09
DANIEL Radcliffe's stunt double is feared to have been paralysed after an explosion on a Harry Potter film set.
Paramedics were called after the 25-year-old stunt man plunged to the ground while rehearsing a flying sequence involving an explosion.
He apparently told colleagues he could not feel his legs after he fell yesterday at the Leavesden studios near Watford.
A source said: "He was rehearsing a scene which involved an explosion. He was rigged up to a harness and was flying through the air. He may have been caught by the explosion and hit the ground very hard.
"He told crew members who went to help him he couldn't feel anything from the waist down. It has come as a terrible shock."
The crew had been carrying out pre-production tests for stunts for Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, the final book of the series and seventh film in the franchise which stars Radcliffe, pictured.
It is not thought that any of the stars were present at the time of the accident. A spokesman for the studio said: "We can confirm a member of the Harry Potter production was injured in an accident. We are awaiting further news."
An ambulance spokesman confirmed an ambulance had been called to the studio and that "a man in his twenties sustained a significant back injury".
Reader views (3)
What a terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to him and his family and friends. Saying a prayer that he gets better soon.
- Melinda, San Diego, CA, USA
Or we could wrap ourselve in buble wrap and never do anything Anon.
I feel very sorry for the guy in the accident and hope he will fully recover. But to do this sort of job, he must have been very passionate about what he was doing and must have known the risk of injury.
This is no excuse for the accident as it probably underlines a lack of security and might have been avoided. But you cannot stop people to do what they love for fear of an accident.
Once again all my wishes for a prompt recovery goes to the stun man.
- Noneau, London
Perhaps people will grow up now and stop this childish nonsense albeit at the expense of someone's life/health.
- Anon, UK
