Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126197680 - Second Mate Productions

Inspection Information - Office: Los Angeles District Office

Investigation Summary

On July 21, 2005, an employee was performing stunt rehearsals for the motion picture "Pirates of the Caribbean II" at Disney Ranch in Valencia, CA. He was rehearsing a stunt that would simulate rolling from a horizontal position while falling from a height of 80-feet and then transitioning into a vertical spin while continuing downward to the ground. The stunt was scripted and choreographed to utilize a descender device and a full body harness that would control the speed of the fall so that the stunt performer could perform the required gymnastics while he was falling. The stunt had been successfully rehearsed by the same performer one month prior. On the day of the accident, the employee had successfully completed the combined stunt and gymnastic routine from a lower starting point for warm-up earlier that morning. The accident occurred when the employee's legs became separated while he was descending and he was unable to pull them together due to the inertia from the spinning and falling motions. All equipment functioned as intended. The employee came to a stop when he reached his targeted elevation and was hanging from the pick point on the hip of his personal flying harness. He did not strike the ground or the stunt pads that were provided on the ground. The set medic was on scene at the time of the accident and attended to the employee. The employee was transported by ambulance to Henry Mayo Hospital in Newhall, where he was admitted and received surgery for a pelvis fracture and sacral disruption and ongoing rehabilitation and physical therapy. The employee was an experienced gymnast and had been performing stunts since 1997.

Keywords: FRACTURE, PELVIS, FALL, LEG