Actress Amanda Abbington recalls how escapologist fiance Jonathan Goodwin nearly died twice when stunt went wrong

Actress Amanda Abbington has described how her escapologist fiance nearly died twice and was left paralysed after a stunt went wrong.

Former stuntman and Britain’s Got Talent contestant Jonathan Goodwin, also known as The Daredevil, was trying to escape from a straight jacket while being hung upside down 30ft in the air between two suspended cars in October last year.

But Abbington said the timing was misjudged and the cars were released too early, causing him to be crushed between them as they caught on fire – leading to horrific injuries.

The 48-year-old Sherlock star told the Out To Lunch podcast with Jay Rayner: “He fell 30 feet and lost a kidney, broke both shoulder blades, shattered both legs.

“Third degree burns, broke his spine and severed his spinal cord and, nearly died. And then on the operating table, he nearly died again.”

She added: “He’s paralysed now he’s in a wheelchair. Unless there’s a kind of stem cell surgery or that thing that Elon Musk is designing with the little chip, he’ll be like that forever.”

Goodwin, who featured on the 2019 season of Britain’s Got Talent, has now retired from escapology.

Despite the life-altering injuries, Abbington explained he has remained “positive and upbeat and so strong”.

“His courage and his strength is something that I just aspire to be like,” she said.

“He’s just incredible, honestly, like so happy, just like a very happy, positive human being, just liquid sunshine. He’s amazing.”

The couple had previously been friends on social media for around 10 years, with Abbington following his content as her son Joe thought his act was “amazing”.

She explained that they connected after she split with fellow Sherlock actor Martin Freeman and separated from another partner – and when Goodwin had divorced from his wife.

The actress said that within half an hour of meeting, Goodwin proposed and the couple plan to marry this summer.