Well, it was bound to happen. A stunt went awry on the set of America’s Got Talent: Extreme, landing a contestant in the hospital.
Daredevil stuntman, Jonathan Goodwin suffered “brutal” injuries, according to TMZ, after a stunt he attempted went horribly wrong. Reportedly, the accident was “so bad” that people on set thought he was dead.
Production sources tell TMZ that Goodwin was suspended 70 feet in the air in a straitjacket hanging by his feet from a wire. Two cars were suspended on either side of him, swinging back and forth. The stunt was for Goodwin to free himself from the restraints and then fall on an air mattress, and avoid getting crushed by the cars as they swung in the air.
Something went terribly wrong, reports TMZ, and the cars smashed together, sandwiching Goodwin in between them. The impact caused the cars to explode, erupting in a gigantic fireball. Goodwin fell to the ground and hit his head.
People on the set thought he was dead
Sources say Goodwin was unresponsive after the crash, and people on the set thought he was dead.
However, Goodwin was responsive when he was airlifted to a hospital and rushed into surgery. We’re told he’s in a trauma unit and his condition is unclear.
UPDATE: An AGT Spokesman released a statement. Production is paused
“During a rehearsal last evening for America’s Got Talent: Extreme, an accident occurred in which escape artist Jonathan Goodwin was injured while performing his act. He was responsive and was immediately taken to the hospital, where he is continuing to receive medical care. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family as we await further updates on his condition.”
Deadline reports that taping on the show has paused today.
This is not Goodwin’s first appearance on a show from the Got Talent franchise. He competed on AGT in 2020, and Britain’s Got Talent in 2019, where he successfully completed more death-defying stunts.
Goodwin calls the below stunt, performed for the America’s Got Talent 2020 Quarterfinals, one his mother didn’t want him to do. The trick involves fire and a long, long fall (with a mattress…).
AGT: Extreme is hosted by Terry Crews, and features judges Nikki Bella, Travis Pastrana and Simon Cowell. The series is filming at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Georgia.
