Tragic Accident on 'Harry Potter' Set Leaves Daniel Radcliffe's Stunt Double Paralyzed
Daniel Radcliffe's 'Harry Potter' stunt double opens up in 'The Boy Who Lived' documentary trailer, revealing the heartbreaking accident on set that tragically left him paralyzed
Daniel Radcliffe and David Holmes HBO/YouTube
In the upcoming documentary The Boy Who Lived, David Holmes, a former Hollywood stuntman, reminisces about his exhilarating career, which he describes as "the best job in the world." The trailer for the HBO film, released on November 1st, showcases Holmes reflecting on the thrill of constantly being tested and risking everything, stating, "I used to fly. There's nothing else quite like it, man."
Holmes, who was Daniel Radcliffe's stunt double in the majority of the Harry Potter movies, had his career abruptly altered in 2009. While working on the set of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1, he suffered a severe accident that resulted in paralysis from the waist down. Reflecting on his career path, Holmes expressed his initial aspiration of becoming a stuntman and his great fortune in securing the prestigious role as Radcliffe's lead stunt double in the Potter films.
Radcliffe, who is 34 years old, described Holmes as "a cool older brother" while they were on the set of the movie. The actor, who is also the executive producer of The Boy Who Lived, remembered how Holmes would willingly engage in the most perilous physical tasks.
Daniel Radcliffe expressed his sympathy towards David Holmes for the unfortunate incident that resulted in the stuntman breaking his neck on the set of 'Harry Potter.' Radcliffe remarked that he found it unjust for Holmes to endure such a hardship. Prior to the accident, Holmes admitted that his focus was on being "cool," but now he prioritizes living in the present moment.
"This unfortunate event occurred in Dave's life, yet I hesitate to describe it as a tragedy," Radcliffe expressed. "The impact of his experience on those around him makes it the complete opposite of anything one could imagine."
During the years after Holmes' accident, the cast of Harry Potter established a yearly cricket match between Slytherin and Gryffindor to raise funds for the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital, where he received treatment," Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) revealed in his memoir Beyond the Wand, which became available in October 2022.
Similar to Radcliffe, Felton also struck up a close friendship with Holmes on the Harry Potter set.
Daniel Radcliffe and David Holmes, who served as both Daniel's and my stunt double starting from the second film, were kept incredibly busy due to the countless adventures of Harry and Draco. However, it was during the filming of Deathly Hallows that we truly realized the seriousness and expertise required for stunt work, and that it should never be approached with naivety.
Felton recounted the incident when Holmes had his accident, mentioning that they were practicing a stunt that involved him flying and crashing into a wall. Despite wearing a harness, something unexpectedly malfunctioned.
According to Felton, Holmes instantly realized that something had gone awry as he collided with the wall with more force than anticipated. Following the incident, Holmes was promptly taken to the hospital, where medical professionals concluded that he would be permanently paralyzed and have only restricted mobility in his arms.
Felton described Holmes as the most courageous and determined individual he had ever encountered, praising the former stuntman who now runs his own production company as a shining example. Tune in to Max on Wednesday, November 15 for the premiere of David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived.
