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Fast & Furious 9 stuntman 'in induced coma' after serious on-set accident

Investigation underway after stuntman and teacher Joe Watts injured on UK set

Clémence Michallon
Tuesday 23 July 2019 14:01 EDT
The most recent film in the main Fast & Furious movie series, 'The Fate of the Furious', came out in 2017.
The most recent film in the main Fast & Furious movie series, 'The Fate of the Furious', came out in 2017. (YouTube / Fast & Furious)

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A stuntman has been left with serious injuries after an accident on the set of Fast & Furious 9.

Joe Watts, a professional stunt performer and teacher, was injured on Monday at Warner Bros’ UK studios in Leavesden, Hertfordshire.

He was airlifted to a hospital, where he is being treated for “serious” injuries.

Producers halted work on the latest instalment of the long-running franchise yesterday as police and paramedics were called to the scene.

Police handed the case over to the Health and Safety Executive, a UK government agency, which says it is investigating the incident.

Watts has worked on a number of high-profile productions including Games of Thrones, Johnny English Strikes Again, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

Most recently Watts appeared in Spider-Man: Far From Home.

The film stars franchise regulars Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez, and is due for release in 2020.

According to Deadline, which cited sources close to the production, Watts fell about 20 feet from an elevated set and was later placed in an induced coma.

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The Independent has contacted Universal Pictures, the film’s distributor, for more information.

Additional reporting by agencies

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