'Fast & Furious 9' stuntman in 'induced coma' as investigation into on-set accident begins

The stuntman who was injured in a major fall on the set of Fast & Furious 9 is now 'stable but in an induced coma', according to reports.

Joe Watts suffered what is thought to be a serious head injury after a sequence involving a jump from a balcony attached to a safety wire went wrong.

In a post to Facebook, his fiancée Tilly Powell said that her 'heart was shattered' by the news.

Read more: F&F 9 filming suspended after stuntman fall

“Joe has suffered a serious head injury and is in an induced coma. 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!”

According to Variety, production on the film's main unit has resumed, but the Health and Safety Executive is now looking into what happened.

“HSE is investigating the incident following attendance at the scene yesterday,” a spokesman said.

It was initially reported that Watts was working as Fast & Furious star Vin Diesel's stunt double, but that's now not thought to be the case.

Read more: Jordana Brewster confirmed for F&F 9

An in-demand performer, Watts has appeared in high profile movies including Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Jurassic World - Fallen Kingdom, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Kingsman: The Golden Circle, in which he was Mark Strong's stunt double.

Sources told The Sun that Diesel was on set seconds after the accident, and saw the aftermath 'in total shock' and 'choking back tears'.

Watts was then airlifted to hospital from Leavesden Studios, just outside Watford.

A spokesperson for Universal confirmed yesterday: “We had an injury on the set of Fast 9 with one of our stuntmen. We have halted production for the day to focus on this situation.”

The movie is due out in May 2020.

Hobbs & Shaw, the first Fast & Furious spin-off, revs into cinemas on 1 August. Watch a trailer below.