The stunt double who was paralysed on-set of Harry Potter is shocked by how ripped Daniel Radcliffe is these days.
Former gymnast David Holmes was over the moon when he was cast as the stunt double for Radcliffe in the Harry Potter movie franchise back in 2000.
But what started out as a dream gig for Holmes ended in disaster when in 2009, he had a tragic accident on the set of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, that changed his life forever.
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Holmes was filming a 'jerk back' stunt - designed to replicate the effects of an explosion - when he slammed into a wall and was seriously injured.
He recalled the accident to The Mirror in 2014: “I hit the wall and then landed on the crash mat underneath.
"My stunt co-ordinator grabbed my hand and said, 'squeeze my fingers'. I could move my arm to grab his hand but I couldn't squeeze his fingers.
"I looked into his eyes and that's when I realised what happened was major.
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"I remember slipping in and out of consciousness because of the pain levels.”
At the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London, Holmes was told that he was paralysed from the chest down, with only limited movement in his arms and hands.
His life both before and after the accident is going to be explored in a new Sky and HBO documentary executive produced by the lead actor himself, titled David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived.
Radcliffe is one of the producers for the documentary and remains close with Holmes, who recently told the Guardian that he has loved watching him grow and flourish into the huge star he is today.
He told the publication: “He’s my boy, isn’t he? I love him. I love him.
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"I’m so proud of him. You think of how many child stars don’t make it through that pressure, that whirlwind. Every time I see his physicality, to know I had just a little input into that brings me joy.”
When asked what he meant by that, Holmes admitted: “Look at him, he’s ripped!”
And he’s not wrong - Radcliffe got into superhero-style shape for TBS comedy series, Miracle Workers.
In this season of the show Radcliffe played road warrior Sid, who lives in a postnuclear apocalyptic world and in the last episode stripped off to a pair of Y-fronts showing off his impressive physique.
Topics: Celebrity, Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter, TV and Film, Documentaries, Health
Claire Reid