Harry Potter stunt double speaks about the scene which left him paralysed
David Holmes landed the job of many people’s dreams when he was cast as a stunt double in the Harry Potter films.
And not just any stunt double either, the lad was cast as Daniel Radcliffe’s stand-in.
However, the then-gymnast from Essex had a tragic accident on the set of the 2010 film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, that changed his life forever.
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Holmes was responsible for doing all the risky tricks and moments that Radcliffe couldn’t, such as flying about on broomsticks and motorbikes.
He was spotted by stunt coordinator Greg Powell as a teenager and asked to do a broomstick test.
He told the Mirror: "I found myself in this wonderful studio strapped to the back of a truck, getting towed down the runway, dragging my feet along the floor in front of Chris Columbus, the director.
“So that’s how I got my job."
But when he went plummeting to the ground during a planned stunt for the penultimate Harry Potter film in 2009, he was left paralysed and now uses a wheelchair.
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.
“Over the next 10 years, the two form an inextricable bond, but on the penultimate film a tragic accident on set leaves David paralysed with a debilitating spinal injury, turning his world upside down," a synopsis for the documentary reads.
This freak accident took place while 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 was rushed to the local Watford General Hospital from the set and then transferred to Royal National Orthopaedic hospital in London.
Here, Holmes was told he would be paralysed from the chest down and would have only limited movement in his arms and hands.
And his first thoughts when he heard this might surprise you.
He told The Mirror in 2014: “My first thoughts weren’t about not being able to walk again. It was all the other stuff, like not being able to dance again or have sex.”
Recalling the accident itself, he said: “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. I remember slipping in and out of consciousness because of the pain levels.
"I’d broken a bone before, so recognising that weird feeling across my whole body from my fingertips right down to my toes, I knew I had really done some damage."
He added: "My first thought was, ‘Don’t ring Mum and Dad'. I don’t want to worry them."
Earlier this week, Holmes took to Instagram to announce the new documentary, writing: "Being a stuntman was my calling in life, and doubling Harry was the best job in the world. In January 2009, I had a stunt rehearsal accident that changed my life forever.
“This film tells the story of not just my achievements in front of camera, but also the challenges I face every day, and my overall attitude to life after suffering a broken neck."
David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived will be available on Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW from 18 November.
Topics: TV and Film, Harry Potter
Jess Battison