Pembrokeshire stuntman Jonathan Goodwin was taking part in a stunt on America's Got Talent: Extreme when he was critically injured. It is a programme that showcases daredevil stunts and the 42-year-old was meant to escape from a straitjacket while suspended between two cars 70ft from the ground..
But it went horribly wrong during rehearsals for the show in Atlanta, and he appeared to fall 40ft to the ground after bouncing off the bonnet of one of the cars which had burst into flames.
The local sheriff's office said his injuries were so serious he was airlifted to hospital and he spent months in hospital recovering. His fiancée Amanda Abbington has now revealed he has been left paralysed and you can read more about that here.
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She has revealed that he almost lost his life twice in the aftermath of the accident. In an emergency call recording from the scene, a caller who was at the scene said: "He fell about 40ft, missed the airbag, landed on his head."
The 42-year-old had been due to escape from his restraints before the cars collided in the middle, and got caught in the flames. The Henry County Sheriff's Office said: "The pyro went off causing minor burns to Goodwin. He fell about 40ft, breaking both legs. One was a compound fracture and because of the nature of his injures he was life flighted to Grady Hospital in Atlanta."
Speaking to America's Got Talent before taking part in the stunt, he admitted that things can go wrong "very quickly" saying: "When you are going to do something for the very first time, there is an awful lot to consider, and there is an awful lot that can go wrong."
Jonathan, who has been interested in death-defying stunts since he was seven, was released from hospital in February and Amanda - who has two children with former partner Martin Freeman - praised his courage as he continues the long road to recovery.
She said: "His courage and his strength is something that I just aspire to be like. He’s just incredible, honestly, like so happy, just like a very happy, positive human being, just liquid sunshine. He’s amazing.”
Sending a message from his hospital after the accident, Jonathan said that he had a "long road to recovery". He wrote on Instagram: "To death I say nananana boo boo. "I have been to the very brink and dodged the worst that a human being can, without fear… because I was protected by love.
"Love is all you need, so make sure you get some, cos its good s***. "There is a long road to recovery and that won't look like what it did… I may leave the daft s*** alone for a while, but I have a lot left to do in this world. Maybe we can make something good together?"
He has also been able to make jokes about his recovery, saying he was "looking forward" to the next chapter and being a "roll model".
Sharing a picture of himself in a wheelchair with his dog on his lap, he wrote: "6 months ago I went to rehearse something and left this little hairy monkey waiting patiently for me…he didn’t see his dad again until just a couple of weeks ago and when he finally did, dad had new cool wheels. A lot has changed in the last 6 months, but love is a constant and I’m very very loved. Looking forward to my next chapters and being a roll model."
