Jonathan Goodwin
TV stunt went wrong: “America’s Got Talent” star is in a wheelchair
Escape artist Jonathan Goodwin injured while filming TV for ‘America’s Got Talent’ (stock image)
© Imago Images
‘America’s Got Talent: Extreme’ star Jonathan Goodwin is paralyzed after a stunt went wrong. The 42-year-old only survived with luck, because he almost died in the accident, as his fiancé now said.
The terrible accident happened in October 2021 during the filming of the TV show “America’s Got Talent: Extreme”. Escape artist Jonathan Goodwin was hanging upside down between two cars about 30 feet above the ground. The 42-year-old was about to break free and fall into an inflatable airbag before two cars, each suspended from ropes on either side of him, collided.
But the timing was wrong and both cars collided with Goodwin and exploded on impact. Goodwin fell to the ground but missed the airbag and landed on his head. He was taken by plane to a local hospital.
Amanda Abbington on John Goodwin: ‘He almost died twice’
In the “Out To Lunch with Jay Rayner” podcast, his fiancé, the actress and “Sherlock” star Amanda Abbington, now told how bad things were really about the magician at the time: “He almost died twice – on the operating table and during the stunt ‘that he made’.
He sustained serious injuries in the fall. “He lost a kidney, fractured both shoulder blades and crushed both legs. He suffered third-degree burns, fractured his spine, severed his spinal cord. He almost died,” says Abbington. “And then, on the operating table, he’s there almost died again.” Only after four months was the magician released from the hospital.
Abbington, who has two children from a previous relationship with actor Martin Freeman, also explained how much she admires Goodwin as he has never complained about his situation since the accident: “His courage and strength is something I do too would like to have. He’s just amazing, honestly, he’s so happy, a very happy, positive person, just liquid sunshine. He’s amazing.”
The couple got engaged a few weeks before the accident
The couple had been friends on social media for ten years prior to their engagement, but later started dating. Just a few weeks before the accident, Goodwin had proposed to her. Leaving him because of the wheelchair never crossed her mind. “He said he could totally understand if I left him because of it. He said it was a big deal and he’d never be able to walk again. But that never crossed my mind. Certainly not. He’s just the most beautiful person, I’ve ever met,” Abbington said.
Watch the video: Twelve-year-old Benjamin sets an unbelievable record: he does a backflip with his wheelchair. No one his age has ever managed to do that. Ever since he was born, the Brit has suffered from a serious illness that has tied him to a wheelchair.
Sources: “Out to Lunch with Jay Rayner”“Daily Mail