• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Tragic Harry Potter set accident which left Daniel Radcliffe stunt double paralysed for life

Home> Entertainment> Film

Updated 14:49 1 Nov 2023 GMTPublished 08:46 25 Oct 2023 GMT+1

Tragic Harry Potter set accident which left Daniel Radcliffe stunt double paralysed for life

A new documentary exploring the stunt double's life before and after the accident is being executive produced by Radcliffe

Jess Battison

Jess Battison

Featured Image Credit: Sky/Davidholmes/Instagram

Topics: Harry Potter, TV and Film, Daniel Radcliffe, Documentaries

Jess Battison
Jess Battison

Jess is a Senior Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include asking everyone in the office what they're having for tea, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021.

X

@jessbattison_

Advert

Advert

Advert

A tragic accident on the set of a Harry Potter film left Daniel Radcliffe’s stunt double paralysed for life.

Getting a role of any shape or size in the Wizarding World is job no one would turn down right?

And for David Holmes, a then-teenage gymnast from Essex, that meant playing the lead’s stunt double in the first six films.

He’d been trusted with doing all the risky tricks and moments Radcliffe couldn’t - so among other things, he got to fly about on broomsticks and motorbikes.

Advert

But one day on the set of Deathly Hallows: Part 1, his life changed forever.

Now paralysed from a freak accident, Holmes lives his life in a wheelchair.

His life both before and after the accident is to be explored in a new Sky and HBO documentary executive produced by the main Harry 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.

David Holmes was left paralysed after an accident on the set of Harry Potter.
Instagram/@davidholmes83

Advert

Holmes took to Instagram yesterday (24 October) to announce the new show, 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."

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.

Back in 2014, he spoke to The Mirror about his terrifying accident on set of the Wizarding World.

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.

Advert

The new documentary is executive produced by Radcliffe.
Sky/HBO

"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."

Holmes was rushed to hospital where he was able to undergo major surgery, though he was left devastated when he woke up.

Advert

Not only was he left paralysed from the waist down, but he was also left with only limited movement in his arms and hands.

Since becoming paralysed, Holmes has taken up automobile racing and also launched a podcast with Radcliffe, called Cunning Stunts, where they interviewed other stunt actors about the risks they face.

David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived will premiere on HBO on 15 November. UK viewers can stream it on Sky Documentaries and NOW from 18 November.

Choose your content:

5 hours ago
6 hours ago
7 hours ago
  • 5 hours ago

    Netflix made major change to Liam Payne's final TV role as they issue tribute to late singer

    The Netflix show, Payne's last on screen appearance, released today

    Entertainment
  • 6 hours ago

    Furious comedian responded after losing it with heckler before grabbing friend’s phone to expose text messages

    Natalie Cuomo made it clear she doesn't suffer fools gladly

    Entertainment
  • 6 hours ago

    Man makes heartbreaking admission about hospital failings that infected 30,000 people with deadly disease

    This comes as a new report was released today

    Entertainment
  • 7 hours ago

    Oasis fans warned over last minute ticket scams as tour well underway

    Fans are being urged to use official channels for ticket resales

    Entertainment
  • Stunt double whose life changed forever on Harry Potter set speaks out about tragic accident
  • Daniel Radcliffe has major issue with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince making him 'hate it'
  • Timeline of JK Rowling's rows with Harry Potter actors as author issues fresh dig at Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint
  • Daniel Radcliffe's stunt double in Harry Potter was paralysed for life after on-set accident