The production for the penultimate entry in the franchise went awry after an on-set accident, leaving David Holmes, who was the body double for Daniel Radcliffe in the Harry Potter films, paralyzed. Holmes, who got his first stunt gig for 1998’s Lost in Space, played Radcliffe’s body double since Harry Potter‘s inception back in the early 2000s until the tragedy left him gravely damaged.
And now The Lost City Star is set to helm the wheels for the upcoming documentary involving David Holmes’ story, giving the franchise’s unsung hero the spotlight he deserves.
Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Left David Holmes Paralyzed From the Chest Down
It has been over a decade since the Essex-born Holmes endured the grave injuries, which paralyzed him from the chest down, limiting his body movements. Speaking with The Mirror, the former stuntman recounted the traumatic experience.
During a flying sequence shot back in 2009 at the Warner Bros Studios, Leavesden, Holmes was pulled backward by a high-strength wire at a high speed to replicate the effects of an explosion. But things went south as he was launched straight into the wall, and it didn’t take long for Holmes to realize the gravity of the situation.
“I looked into his eyes and that’s when I realised what happened was major.” Holmes recalled. “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.”
Following the accident, he was rushed to Watford General Hospital before being transferred to Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, where he remained under medical supervision for 6 months.
Daniel Radcliffe Gave Stunt Performers the Spotlight They Deserve
The time after the traumatic experience, David Holmes was often visited by Harry Potter Star Daniel Radcliffe, who is set to produce the upcoming documentary. But this isn’t the first time Daniel Radcliffe will be joining forces with him, as back in 2020, he collaborated with Holmes to kickstart the Cunning Stunts podcast to celebrate the unsung heroes in Hollywood.
Radcliffe previously told Deadline:
“I think there’s a myth around stuntmen that they are just superhuman in some way. When the public see something really painful or horrible, they think it was a visual effect or that there’s some clever, safe way of doing it. Often that’s not the case.
Despite enduring a life-changing injury during the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Holmes wholeheartedly cherishes his time in the beloved franchise, as he showers Daniel Radcliffe with love.
