The entire cast and crew of "The Walking Dead" are taking a break from filming the eighth season after a stuntman was involved in an on-set accident. John Bernecker, whose credits include "The Fate of the Furious," "Black Panther," "Escape Plan 2: Hades" and "Logan," suffered from "serious injuries" while doing his stunts for the series.
Accident on 'TWD' set
The AMC program, in an official statement, confirmed that the stuntman had a "tragic accident" while they were filming in Georgia. Bernecker was immediately transported to a hospital in Atlanta where he was admitted to recover from his injuries.
The show refused to provide further details about his condition, but announced that they have "temporarily shut down" the production following the incident.
It was revealed that the stuntman is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) which is a collaborative effort of two labor unions to represent actors, announcers, broadcast journalist, stunt performers, and other media professionals.
A SAG-AFTRA spokesperson assured that they will be investigating the incident on "The Walking Dead" set. They explained that the safety and security of their members has always been their top concern. Hence, the organization promised to look into the case of Bernecker and find out what happened on the set.
What's the cause of injury?
Several sources told Deadline that Bernecker landed on a concrete floor after a 20-foot fall while filming. He reportedly injured his head which was seemingly confirmed by his girlfriend and stuntwoman, Jennifer Cocker, who said her boyfriend deserves the best medical attention to fully recover from his injuries.
Lauren Cohan, who plays Maggie Greene, asked her fans to include Bernecker in their prayers as he fights for his life. She was later commended by Lisa Catara for her thoughtfulness toward one of their SAG-AFTRA members. "The Walking Dead" executive producer Gale Anne Hurd also sent her thoughts and prayers to Bernecker and his loved ones.
Thank you for your love & support of one of our stunt Brothers. Please remember him and others!) when you watch action on tv & film 🙏
— Lisa Catara official (@lisa_catara) July 14, 2017
A few hours after it was announced that the show was temporarily shutting down production due to the incident, ComicBook reported that Bernecker had passed away at the Atlanta Medical Hospital after his tragic fall on set. The AMC series, however, has yet to provide an official statement regarding the on-set accident at this time.
