Jason Statham has expressed his concern for stuntman Joe Watts after he was seriously injured on the Fast & Furious set.
The British actor, who stars in spin-off Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, wished the stuntman a speedy recovery after his girlfriend revealed he had been placed in an induced coma following the accident on Monday.
The professional was flown to hospital with a serious head injury following a reported fall at Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden, where filming was halted on Fast & Furious 9.
Jason paid tribute to the selflessness of the specialists in danger, and expressed his sadness at the news of the serious injury.
Speaking at the premiere of Hobbs & Shaw in London, Jason told PA: “It’s a very, very concerning thing when someone gets hurt. The families have to endure that difficulty.
“It’s awful. We have to try as best we can to try and mitigate those things.
“It’s absolutely awful news, and we just wish him the best.”
He added: “They are really the unsung heroes. They are the ones that put themselves in harm’s way to make other people look good.
“It’s a real selfless act.”
The actor, who has starred in numerous action roles throughout his career, said the professionals who risk their safety in stunts are his best friends on set.
He said: “Stuntmen have always been my firm favourite on any movie set. I’ve worked closely with them for many years.
“I have to hone these action moments and fight sequences, hand-to-hand combat. We train all the time.
“I’m more at home in the company of stuntmen than any other department. These are my close pals.
“They are really uncelebrated, and it’s a real shame because they are incredibly skilled.
“It should be recognised. They are incredibly talented.”
On Tuesday, Joe’s fiancée and fellow stunt actor Tilly Powell broke her silence on social media, revealing that he had been placed in a medically induced coma after sustaining a serious head injury when a cable snapped as he was leaping off a balcony.
“Joe has suffered a serious head injury and is in an induced coma,” she wrote on Facebook. “He is stable and is being monitored closely throughout the night.
“I love him so much and my heart is shattered. He has all his family and friends by his side to get him through this.”
Police have handed the case over to the Health and Safety Executive, which says it is investigating the incident.
A spokesman for the executive said: “HSE is investigating the incident following attendance at the site yesterday.”