Makers Of Fast & Furious 9 Fined Following Stunt Injury

The makers of Fast and Furious 9 have been fined £800,000 (€921,000), after a stuntman suffered life changing injuries during a staged fight scene.

This decision was made by district judge Talwinder Buttar, after Joe Watts suffered a broken skull, having fallen 25 feet headfirst onto the concrete ground at Warner Brothers' studios in Leavesden, Hertfordshire in July 2019. 

This happened after Mr Watts' safety line detached as he was thrown over the shoulder of another performer, during a major fight scene from the film. 

The court heard how Joe Watts had rehearsed being thrown over the other performer's right shoulder, but the stunt changed to the left shoulder, during filming. 

After detaching from his vest on the second take, Mr Watts plummeted to the ground, missing the crash mats. The court were also told that the wire was not checked between takes.

"astonishing"

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who brought this prosecution to the court, the makers of Fast and Furious 9,  had "no system for double checking that the link had been properly engaged and tightened".

It said the firm "did not extend the crash matting needed to mitigate the consequences of an unintended fall following changes to the set and the sequence of the stunt".

"Mr Watts’ injuries were life-changing and he could have easily been killed", said HSE inspector Roxanne Barker. "In stunt work, it is not about preventing a fall but minimising the risk of an injury". 

While passing sentence, Judge Talwinder Buttar also criticised the firm's decision to alter this stunt "at the last minute", adding that Mr Wats is "fortunate to be alive".

Mr Watts had previously worked on several high profile productions, including, Johnny English Strikes Again, Star Wars: The Last Jedi  Game Of Thrones, and Kingsman: The Golden Circle.