HBO faces backlash as leaked GoT stunt fail video blames coordinator

HBO has responded to safety concerns regarding its Game of Thrones productions following newly surfaced footage of a 2014 stunt accident during season 5 filming - years before a similar incident occurred.

Deadline acquired but chose not to publish the full video, instead sharing a still image to protect their source. The footage reportedly shows stunt performer Andy Pilgrim suffering an ankle fracture during a dangerous sequence for the "Hardhome" episode.

According to 2019 legal documents obtained by Deadline, Pilgrim claimed his injury occurred while performing a stunt involving a collapsing 16-foot wooden wall. Though initially rehearsed with safety measures using a crane, the final execution allegedly omitted these precautions.

Rowley Irlam, the stunt coordinator who designed the sequence and currently works on House of the Dragon, defended his safety record through an HBO statement: "With over 20 years' experience coordinating hundreds of stunts across film and television, safety remains my absolute priority. While regrettable accidents sometimes occur, Mr. Pilgrim continued working with my team for two subsequent seasons following this resolved matter."

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HBO affirmed its confidence in Irlam: "We take production safety extremely seriously. Mr. Irlam is a respected veteran in this demanding field who consistently maintains our rigorous safety standards."

Pilgrim ultimately settled with Fire & Blood Productions for £500,000 ($686,000) in 2018. That same year, another stunt performer, Casey Michaels, suffered career-ending injuries during season 8 when a 12-foot fall into cardboard boxes went wrong - also under Irlam's supervision. Michaels later received £7 million ($9.3 million) in her 2023 settlement, significantly more than her initial £4 million claim.