Accidents do happen and after all - I am lucky to be alive...and I am very grateful for that.
I was asked to do my own stunt and I agreed to do it...
Director of the movie (Tom Proctor) who was also a stuntman for 25 years asked me to do it WITH HIM...
Both of us were supppose to run out of the barn which was going to explode in matter of seconds...
I told him that I am not afraid of it - but there is ONE THING that I must tell him - and that was: I had to cancel my health insurance just couple of month ago (biggest mistake of my life - but I did it...and AGAIN paid consequences...)
He assured me that there is nothing to worry about...and that IF something goes wrong - I would be covered!
Well, during the rehearsal - AIR-RAM (device used to catapult actors as high or as far as needed to avoid the explosion) broke Tom's leg...
It was one of the most horrifying injuries...
Tom's leg was severely broken by device under 1200 pounds of pressure (needed to throw us high and far enough - to avoid the fire...)
After he was rushed to the hospital - I was left to do the stunt alone...
I promised him I would - so I had to...even if that was the last thing I would have done...
My wife Milamar didn't even want to be present - as she strongly advised me NOT TO DO the stunt (especially after she saw what happened to Tom - experienced professional stuntmen for more than 2 decades)...
To make long story short - I was going to run on ACTION commend and ON MY FORTH STEP I was going to hit the air-ram (which was going to throw me far enough - and I only had to know how to land...I did it many times during the practice so that was not going to be a problem) and that is WHEN pyrotechnic in charge was suppose to push the button and initiate the explosion.
Well, I never expected what happened next.
Pyrotechnic hired for the job was suppose to push the button and initiate explosion ON MY FORTH STEP...
However - after comand ACTION was given - he pushed the button THE SAME SECOND!!!
Comend was FOR ME to start running and NOT for him...but he was confused and pushed the button as I didn't even complete my first step...
I was in the middle of the explosion - with UNBELIEVEBLE TASK - to run 4 steps with my open eyes (my eyes were severely damaged as well) as I had to find the air-ram for the sake of surviving...As I knew that IF I MISS the air-ram and over/under step on it - it would also break my leg - just like it did to Tom just hour before...I simply had to look for it and step right on the middle of the small platform...
At the same time I knew that I should not inhale - as I would burn my lungs and certainly die with most horrifying injuries and unthinkable pain...
Explosion surrounded me and it felt like million degrees slapped me over my entire body...
It was painful to move - but I had to run...
Anyway - I am telling you the story as I would hope that ANYONE that considers "PLAYING WITH THE FIRE" should consider the rest of the sentence: "CAN GET BURNED"...and burns are injuries I would NOT wish to my worst enemy...
Epilogue of the whole thing:
I got over 50K in hospital bills which was NOT PAID so my credit was ruined...
Movie studio didn't have the INSURANCE (!!!???) - as they always request from the movie set to show proof of insurance...
Owner of the studio was friend with the director...and TO EVERYONE'S SURPRISE - director DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE EITHER!
So - I got NOTHING for the compensation...Not a dime...Except the bill from the hospital and RUINED credit...
After the accident - everyone interested in the movie washed their hands from it...so it is even a question IF it will EVER be done (completed and edited)...and IF it will be even on the video...
I had severe 3rd and 4th degree burns - and to this day I cannot go on the sun..
My skin is MORE THAN SENSITIVE and my face shows the most...
I do not look healthy - and many of my "fans" especially here on getbig are quick to assume THE REASONS WHY I look so unhealthy
...
As you can imagine - those are last of my worries...
Lesson to take home - when doing something potentially dangerous CHECK, double check and triple check EVERYTHING that you can BEFORE you attempt to do "something dangerous"...
IT CAN COAST YOU YOUR LIFE...
I was lucky enough to have someone watch over me - and save me AGAIN...and I am very grateful for that and contrary to what others think - I consider myself extremely lucky.
All the pains, missfortunes, loss of monetary things fails by far in comparison to the most important thing we all have - and that is: LIFE...
Don't take it for granted - enjoy every minute of it - as IT DOESN'T LAST FOREVER...
Therefore ALL the hate and "owning", "melting" etc...on this board just doesnt make sense to me.It is really something that few of you should consider and NOT waste your time on it...
Life is about LOVING, SHARING, ENJOYING...and couple of other things - that few of you should think about - before you jump on each other with unnecessary hate...
