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Batman film stunt inquest opens Camerman died during Batman stunt
(about 5 hours later)
An inquest into the death of a special effects technician killed on the set of a Batman film in Surrey is being held. A special effects technician was killed filming a stunt for the latest Batman film as he leaned out of a vehicle which hit a tree, an inquest has heard.
Conway Wickliffe, 41, from New Zealand, was on a camera platform being carried on a 4x4 truck when it struck a tree in September 2007. Conway Wickliffe, 41, was operating a camera from the back seat of a moving Nissan 4x4 which failed to negotiate a bend at a site in Longcross, Surrey.
The father-of-two had been filming an unmanned special effects car, believed to be the Batmobile, on private land. He was pronounced dead at the QinetiQ site near Chertsey where filming for Batman: The Dark Knight was being held.
He was pronounced dead at the scene at Longcross, where filming for Batman: The Dark Knight was taking place. A jury is hearing the two-day inquest at Woking Coroner's Court.
The movie, made by Warner Brothers, was released this summer. The court was told Mr Wickliffe, a father of two originally from New Zealand, was in the back seat of the vehicle, which was driving alongside a stunt car at 20mph.
Mr Wickliffe had worked on a number of blockbuster films throughout his career including Batman Begins and the James Bond film, Casino Royale. Instead of turning on to the service road it carried on and I saw it impact the tree Crew member Ian Mitchell
The inquest is taking place at Woking Coroner's Court. The accident happened during a test run for a scene in which the Batmobile is blown up.
An old American police car was being used as the unmanned "rocket car" in a car park area at the former military site.
It was being fired off a ramp by a "black powder cannon" while pyrotechnic explosions in the boot were set off.
As the vehicle landed a further cannon inside the car was fired to flip it over, the jury heard.
The inquest heard that Mr Wickliffe was in the back seat of the 4x4, leaning out of the window and facing backwards to capture the shot.
But the car, being driven by another special effects technician, Bruce Monroe-Armstrong, failed to make a 90 degree turn at the end of the run, and hit the tree.
Ian Lowe, the prep supervisor for the stunt, said the rest of the crew thought it had gone according to plan until "Bruce came running around the corner".
Another crew member, Ian Mitchell, said he watched the 4x4 reach the end of the run but carry on into the grass.
"Instead of turning on to the service road it carried on and I saw it impact the tree," he said.
"It appeared to be a glancing blow."
Loved his job
Mr Wickliffe had worked on a number of blockbuster films, including Batman Begins and the James Bond film, Casino Royale.
His partner Dee Chase earlier told the inquest that he loved his job and loved life, taking part in extreme sports such as snowboarding and parachute jumping.
His death was the first of a number of disasters to hit the Dark Knight movie.
Heath Ledger, 28, who played film villain The Joker, died of an accidental drugs overdose in January.
Christian Bale, who starred as Batman, was accused of assaulting his mother and sister on a trip to London but no charges were brought.
Then fellow actor Morgan Freeman suffered serious injuries in a car crash in Mississippi in August.
The film's closing credits carry a dedication "in memory of our friends Heath Ledger and Conway Wickliffe".
The inquest continues.