Britain’s Got Talent’s most horrific accidents and injuries – paralysis and near drowning

For nearly two decades, ’s has captivated millions with its eclectic mix of performances, showcasing everything from comedians and singers to daredevils and magicians.

The ITV show has become a staple of British entertainment, consistently delivering moments of awe, laughter, and surprise to a diverse audience.

While the vast majority of these acts have been executed flawlessly, adding to the show’s spectacle, there have been instances where things took a dramatic turn. A few of the stunts and performances have resulted in near-catastrophic outcomes, adding a layer of real danger to the thrill of live entertainment.

Notable among these are a harrowing accident that left a performer paralyzed, an incident that nearly resulted in the death of judge , and a dramatic rescue from a potential drowning on set.

In this article, we delve deeper into the moments that shocked and startled audiences, exploring the other on-stage accidents and mishaps that have sometimes left Britain’s Got Talent viewers in utter shock.

Knife throwing disaster

In 2014, Simon Cowell experienced a harrowing moment on the ITV talent show when 11-year-old knife thrower Edward Pinder nearly caused him serious injury during a live act. Simon had volunteered to participate in Edward’s act, standing in front of a target board. While the first knife hit the target safely, the second one struck close to Simon, eliciting a collective gasp from the audience as it grazed him before dropping to the floor. Fortunately, Simon was unharmed.

Reflecting on the incident, a stunned commented, “You almost killed Simon Cowell!” Edward, speaking to The Sun, admitted, “Simon was a bit nervous. It was going on in the back of my mind that I could throw the knives a bit closer, but in the end, I thought, ‘no, better not.'”

Escape hell

In 2018, escapologist Matt Johnson held viewers on the edge of their seats with a death-defying act on a live show. Matt embarked on a risky escape act where he locked his head into a transparent, water-filled cage and donned a rigid steel jacket over his chest.

Before beginning his daunting escape, Matt cautioned the audience that he had just 1 minute and 45 seconds to free himself, or he would face severe consequences. As the clock ticked, anxiety surged through the studio, with judges and viewers watching in distress. Matt struggled visibly in his confinement and eventually signalled for a paramedic to assist him, heightening the tension.

Judge David Walliams captured the gravity of the performance, telling him: “This is the perfect act for anyone who wants to watch someone drown. I was really worried for you when the paramedic came on.”

Skating fall

In 2022, the young and enthusiastic Scooter Boys—Tyler, 10, Red, eight, TJ, eight, and Austin, six—dazzled the audience with their scooter stunts on stage. However, their performance took a dramatic turn when Austin had a severe fall, halting the show as his teammates and the audience watched in concern.

Austin was quickly attended to backstage by a medical team, and with courage, he rejoined his fellow Scooter Boys to continue the performance. Despite this brave recovery, the group faced further difficulties in subsequent stages of the competition.

Paralysis

Jonathan Goodwin, known for his daring escapologist acts, has been a notable participant on both Britain’s Got Talent and its American counterpart. His career took a tragic turn during a 2021 rehearsal for “America’s Got Talent: Extreme” when he suffered severe injuries in a stunt gone wrong.

Goodwin was performing a stunt that involved him hanging upside down, thirty feet in the air, between two suspended cars while attempting to escape from a straitjacket. The stunt disastrously failed when the cars ignited and collided, crushing him between them and causing him to fall to the ground.

The impact resulted in a dislocated spinal cord, leaving him paraplegic. Additionally, Goodwin endured internal organ damage, the loss of his left kidney, multiple fractures to his legs, ribs, and shoulders, and third-degree burns over his body.

Engaged to actress , Goodwin’s personal and professional life has been deeply affected by the accident. In response to the incident, he filed a lawsuit against “America’s Got Talent,” citing that the production was “rushed” and “chaotic,” which he believes contributed to the dangerous outcome of his performance.

Fiery act

Throughout the history of “Britain’s Got Talent,” fire has often been a dramatic element in various acts, including Bambas in series 12, who incorporated it into his traditional Greek dances.

In another memorable moment, an ice cream man performed a balancing act with a stack of glasses on his head, intriguingly placing a burning napkin inside the top glass. Unfortunately, when the glasses inevitably tumbled to the stage, the napkin continued to burn. This unexpected turn of events prompted host Declan Donelly to quickly intervene, rushing on stage to help extinguish the lingering flame.

Houdini torture

In 2022, Andrew Basso, a celebrated escapologist and magician, daringly attempted one of Harry Houdini’s most harrowing stunts, The Chinese Water Torture Cell, captivating audiences worldwide. Basso was submerged upside down in a transparent tank filled with water, facing the challenge of escaping handcuffs before he could breathe.

Before initiating the stunt, Basso warned that exceeding two minutes in the tank could lead to severe injuries. As tension escalated, he remained submerged for a nerve-wracking two minutes and thirty seconds, struggling visibly to free himself while the judges and hosts watched anxiously.

Ultimately, Basso successfully freed himself and was promptly helped out of the water-filled tank. The close call led to intense audience speculation, with many wondering if the dramatic suspense of the act was enhanced for theatrical effect, questioning the authenticity of the nail-biting moment.

Audition scare

In a distressing incident during the auditions in Manchester last year, Simon Cowell urgently went backstage to assist a young dancer who suffered a severe fall. The performer, reportedly in his early twenties, collapsed offstage, prompting immediate medical attention as show producers called for a medic.

While Simon and fellow judge checked on the injured dancer, judges and took over to keep the audience engaged. A source revealed to The Sun, “It was a real shock when it happened as the lad was obviously in agony.”

Compounding the situation, the performer was part of a large dance troupe, deeply engrossed in their routine. They continued their performance, unaware of the severity of their colleague’s injuries until after they had finished. “Unfortunately, the rest of the troupe were so focused, and there were so many of them, that they had completed the routine before they quite realized how badly injured he was,” the source added.