A Hollywood stuntman who survived a life changing fall on the set of a Fast & Furious film has publicly described his years long recovery, saying the accident ended his old life but did not take his will to live. Joe Watts, 37, spoke about the 25 foot drop that left him with a broken skull and brain damage during filming at a Warner Bros studio in England in 2019. He spent five days in an induced coma, then more than a month at a major trauma center and weeks of rehabilitation, and was not expected to survive at the outset.
Watts has since turned his experience into advocacy, sharing his journey to support Day One Trauma Support ahead of Major Trauma Awareness Week. The Surrey native had built a high profile as a stunt performer with more than 40 credits to his name, including work on three Star Wars films as a stormtrooper and appearances in Mission Impossible, Jurassic World, Mamma Mia 2 and Kingsman 2, among others. The accident occurred during a practice on a stunt on the Warner Bros set when a change to the wiring led to the line on his vest detaching, accelerating his fall and sending him into hard concrete below. The crash was part of an incident that prompted a Health and Safety Executive probe into FF9 Pictures Limited, the film’s producer, and its procedures for harnesses and crash mats on the set.
In the months after the fall, Watts required extensive medical care and therapy. He spent five days in an induced coma, followed by about a month at the Royal London Hospital’s Major Trauma Centre and another six weeks in rehabilitation at The Wellington Hospital. He has described the years that followed as a period of relearning almost everything he had once taken for granted, including balance, speech, independence and even simple daily tasks. The injuries changed his life in profound ways, robbing him of previously held skills from high level gymnastics to professional stunt work and straining personal relationships he once relied on. Watts says he faced a long and difficult path to regain basic mobility and cognitive functions, and he has described the experience as the loss of several life identities that defined him before the accident. He notes that his brain injury is an invisible disability, with ongoing challenges that can surprise him in daily life.
The incident involved a change to the stunt wiring on the second take, with the harness or its connector failing to hold as intended. Investigators later found gaps in safety measures on set, including a lack of a proper six month inspection on Watts harness and a failure to extend crash matting after changes to the sequence. The Health and Safety Executive charged FF9 Pictures Limited with a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act and the company pleaded guilty. A judge described Watts as fortunate to be alive and voiced astonishment at the level of perceived neglect around crash mats and harness checks, underscoring the gravity of safety lapses on a high profile production.
Watts has been open about the emotional and mental toll of the accident, including years of depression and anger as he relearned to walk and communicate. He learned to navigate everyday life anew, from riding a bike and driving a car to processing fear and managing social interactions. He has described a long process of adaptation and the sense that he was rebuilding his identity from the ground up, while acknowledging that some aspects of his old life as a stunt performer may never return. He has leaned on painting and other personal passions as a way to cope and to find moments of meaning during recovery. He notes that his wife has stood by him throughout the journey, a constant source of support during a period when his parents and some friends found it hard to adapt to the person he had become after the injury.
His wedding in June 2022 marked a turning point for Watts. He delivered a speech at the ceremony to a crowd of about 140 guests, a moment he describes as magical and a validation of the support he has received from his partner and his broader stunt community. Watts says the experience helped him reframe his life and renew his gratitude for the people who stood by him as he rebuilt his independence. Since then, he has continued to speak publicly about his experience, aiming to raise awareness of Major Trauma and to encourage safety improvements on film sets. He hopes his story can inspire others who have suffered catastrophic injuries and encourage them to seek help and support through Day One Trauma Support and other resources.
The safety review linked to the 2019 incident has had lasting implications for on set practices. The court's decision and the fine imposed on FF9 Pictures Limited reflect a broader push to strengthen safety protocols around stunt work, including harness checks, crash matting and ongoing verification of equipment between takes. Watts says that while the incident changed his life in irreversible ways, it also catalyzed a renewed sense of purpose as he uses his platform to advocate for trauma survivors and safer working environments for performers. He remains hopeful about continuing to find new ways to participate in his passion, even as he acknowledges that his identity as a stunt performer may be different going forward. And he emphasizes the importance of supportive networks and accessible resources for people who experience life changing injuries, encouraging others to reach out for help and to find a path toward recovery that works for them.