In the years since Harry Potter As the film ends, fans have learned a lot about the off-screen events, but there are still many events that will take time to unfold, especially those involving lesser known members of the group. Harry Potter family. While the series skyrocketed like Daniel Radcliffe And Emma Watson to stardom, others are not as recognizable, perhaps because no one knows when they will appear on screen. Stuntmen are often the unsung movie heroes, despite the fact that they take the biggest risks. Filmmaking can be a very dangerous business, and Harry Potter no different.
With eight films, it should come as no surprise that the filmmaking process met with disaster at least once, but that doesn’t diminish the impact of the story. Former stuntman and entrepreneur, David Holmes, was Radcliffe’s stunt double for most of the film. But that changed after an accident on set Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows paralyzed from the chest down. But even after a life-altering injury, Holmes refuses to let his circumstances define him. After years of recuperation, Holmes spoke to The Mirror about the events surrounding his paralysis and how he has chosen to live since then.
What Happened to David Holmes on the ‘Harry Potter’ Set?
Flying is widely recognized as one of the more dangerous stunts, and sadly, it’s also a common stunt Harry Potter. During training for harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Holmes practices a jerk action intended to mimic the effect of an explosion. As expected, high-strength cables pull him back, but something goes wrong, and Holmes crashes into a wall before landing on the mat. The fall broke Holmes’ neck, leaving him paralyzed. The stuntman was initially unaware of the severity of his injury, claiming his first worry was that they would call his parents and worry them.
In the aftermath, the stunt coordinator asked Holmes to squeeze his finger. While Holmes could take the man’s hand, he could not squeeze it. And that’s when he realized something was very wrong. Despite slipping in and out of consciousness, Holmes remembers that day well. Holmes likened the pain to the feeling he experienced from breaking a bone, stating in his interview with The Mirror, “realizing this strange feeling all over my body from my fingertips to my toes, I knew I had really done some damage.” it changed a lot for Holmes and had long lasting effects that he is still working on.
Healing from a fall takes a long time and is never complete. Holmes’s diagnosis included paralysis from the chest down and limited mobility of the hands and arms. Following the injury, Holmes was rushed to Watford General Hospital for immediate treatment but then transferred to the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital in Stanmore, North West London, where he spent six months. After his injury, Holmes had to relearn simple tasks. During the recovery period, most of his muscles atrophied, meaning he had to do a lot more to recover. Holmes told The Mirror, “I couldn’t stand on my hands for half an hour at a time and then suddenly I couldn’t sit up in bed.” At first, Holmes struggled to find his balance, unable to sit up straight, but that didn’t last long. The process required patience, persistence, and no small amount of pain, but Holmes learned to function in his new circumstances.
Holmes Formed A Close Relationship With The ‘Harry Potter’ Cast During His Time As Stunt Double
Harry Potter not Holmes’ first film as a stuntman. She began her career as a competitive gymnast at the age of six, and by the age of fourteen, she was a child actor Lost in Space. stunt coordinator, Greg Powellmet Holmes shortly before the start Harry Potter and suggested him for a double role for Radcliffe, starting his involvement with the series. Prior to his injury, Holmes trained in gymnastics, trampoline, high diving, kickboxing, horseback riding and swimming. Holmes works on all Harry Potter film until its crash in 2009 and told The Mirror, “It was an amazing experience. I loved it and Dan was so much fun to work with. The cast and crew were like a second family and I keep in touch with a lot of them to this day.”
Spent years with the cast and crew Harry Potter, it is not surprising that Holmes formed friendships with the others. Both Radcliffe and Tom Felton visited him in the hospital, but not out of politeness. Radcliffe has specifically stated that they have remained friends, saying, “I have a relationship that has lasted many years with Dave. And I don’t like people just looking at me and Dave and going, ‘oh, there’s Daniel Radcliffe with a person in a wheelchair. ‘ – because I would never, even for a moment, want them to assume that Dave was anything but a very important person in my life.” Radcliffe even hosted a charity dinner and auction to cover Holmes’ medical bills. The years spent working together seem to make for lifelong friendships.
What Has David Holmes Been Up To Since ‘Harry Potter’?
Fourteen years after his injury, Holmes has a busy life. Despite being in a wheelchair, Holmes did not become inactive. He has raced in specially modified cars, which he can control with his hands via a push-pull system. Holmes uses it to go around the track at terrifying speed, still unafraid of danger. He also partnered with two tetraplegic friends to launch Ripple Productions, where they create a series of podcasts for people who have suffered traumatic injuries. Holmes continued her activism by becoming an Appeal Ambassador for RNOH, the specialist orthopedic hospital where she spent most of her recovery. Despite the life-changing accident, Holmes remains positive, and he doesn’t let what happened to him define him. Even though his life may not look the same as before, Holmes is in control of his situation and is making a living for himself.