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Batman stunt death was accident | Batman stunt death was accident |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The death of a stunt technician on the set of the latest Batman film was an accident, a jury has decided. | |
Conway Wickliffe was leaning out of a car while operating a camera when the vehicle failed to negotiate a bend and hit a tree, an inquest heard. | Conway Wickliffe was leaning out of a car while operating a camera when the vehicle failed to negotiate a bend and hit a tree, an inquest heard. |
The 41-year-old died last year at the QinetiQ site in Surrey during filming of The Dark Knight. | The 41-year-old died last year at the QinetiQ site in Surrey during filming of The Dark Knight. |
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) may now bring a prosecution over the incident. | The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) may now bring a prosecution over the incident. |
The father-of-two suffered severe head injuries in the crash at the test track in Longcross, near Chertsey in September 2007. | The father-of-two suffered severe head injuries in the crash at the test track in Longcross, near Chertsey in September 2007. |
These guys are under pressure because the director will say he wants something and they have to respond as quickly as possible Dee Chase | These guys are under pressure because the director will say he wants something and they have to respond as quickly as possible Dee Chase |
The two-day inquest in Woking heard the accident happened during a test run for a scene in which the Batmobile is blown up. | The two-day inquest in Woking heard the accident happened during a test run for a scene in which the Batmobile is blown up. |
Following the hearing, Mr Wickliffe's partner, Dee Chase, called on the big movie companies to take health and safety seriously when filming stunts. | Following the hearing, Mr Wickliffe's partner, Dee Chase, called on the big movie companies to take health and safety seriously when filming stunts. |
She said a health and safety person should be assigned to every stunt shoot to prevent similar tragedies occurring again. | She said a health and safety person should be assigned to every stunt shoot to prevent similar tragedies occurring again. |
"Warner Brothers are a huge multi-million dollar company - why are they cutting corners like this?" she said. | "Warner Brothers are a huge multi-million dollar company - why are they cutting corners like this?" she said. |
"These guys are under pressure because the director will say he wants something and they have to respond as quickly as possible. | "These guys are under pressure because the director will say he wants something and they have to respond as quickly as possible. |
"It is the culture of the industry and it needs to change. | "It is the culture of the industry and it needs to change. |
'Inquiries continuing' | 'Inquiries continuing' |
"I just want to see the big companies take health and safety seriously in the movie industry." | "I just want to see the big companies take health and safety seriously in the movie industry." |
Miles Francis, who represented the HSE at the hearing, said afterwards: "Our inquiries are continuing and a decision will be made in due course whether there will be a prosecution." | Miles Francis, who represented the HSE at the hearing, said afterwards: "Our inquiries are continuing and a decision will be made in due course whether there will be a prosecution." |
Mr Wickliffe's death was the first of a number of disasters to hit the Dark Knight movie. | Mr Wickliffe's 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. | Heath Ledger, 28, who played film villain The Joker, died of an accidental drugs overdose in January. |
And while in London to promote the film, Christian Bale, who starred as Batman, was accused of assaulting his mother and sister, but no charges were brought. | And while in London to promote the film, Christian Bale, who starred as Batman, was accused of assaulting his mother and sister, but no charges were brought. |
The film's closing credits carry a dedication "in memory of our friends Heath Ledger and Conway Wickliffe". | The film's closing credits carry a dedication "in memory of our friends Heath Ledger and Conway Wickliffe". |