14 October 2023 , 12:21
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An escapologist who was left paralysed after a stunt went wrong during the rehearsals of America’s Got Talent: Extreme, has launched legal action against the show's producers.
Jonathan Goodwin, who is the husband of Sherlock star Amanda Abbington who is competing in this year's Strictly Come Dancing, sustained life-changing injuries when he was crushed between two burning cars while hung upside down, during a stunt in October 2021. Goodwin, a former stuntman and contestant on Britain's Got Talent, has slammed the production of the show and has cited this as a major reason in him being paralysed in the incident.
His lawyer has said the production was “rushed” and “chaotic” and branded the safety practices, protocols and procedures as “inadequate”. Goodwin was supposed to escape from a straitjacket while hung upside down between two cars suspended in the air at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Instead he was crushed between them as they caught on fire and he then fell around 30ft to the ground.
Amanda Abbington with fiance, BGT star Jonathan Goodwin (jonathangoodwinofficial/Instagram)Goodwin has been left a paraplegic after he suffered a dislocated spinal cord, internal organ injuries which included losing his left kidney, fractures to his legs, ribs, and shoulders, as well as third-degree burns. The former BGT star has begun legal proceedings over the “actions and inactions of the various production entities” connected with the incident.
The legal papers show the lawsuit has been filed against companies including US broadcaster NBCUniversal, Fremantle Media North America and production arm Syco Entertainment. His lawyer Stuart Fraenkel said: “This is yet another example of the entertainment industry putting profits and ratings before safety.
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“It is the Rust and Resident Evil sets once again,” he added, referring to two US film productions where crew members were killed or injured. The producers and staff working on this show could have taken a number of simple steps to ensure Jonathan’s safety. Instead, the production was rushed, chaotic and staffed by a team that lacked the necessary expertise and experience."
Jonathan Goodwin on BGT in 2019 (Dymond/Thames/Syco/REX)
Amanda Abbington and Jonathan Goodwin in 2022 (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)The lawyer added: “Jonathan will be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life because there were inadequate safety practices, protocols and procedures in place to protect him. He is bringing this claim to bring attention to an ongoing lack of safety problem in the entertainment industry. He hopes that by bringing this claim lessons will be learned, changes will be made and others in the future will not be exposed to unnecessary risks and danger.”
Goodwin reached the final of the 2019 season of Britain’s Got Talent but has now retired from escapology, while his fiancee Amanda previously described him as a “total inspiration”. Speaking on ITV ’s Lorraine last year: “We are closer and tighter than ever, and we just have this unspoken thing that we have, and every day is a joy, and it’s just fun. We have the best time.”
The Mirror approached Fremantle Media and America's Got Talent, who have declined to comment any further.