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Jonathan Goodwin (escapologist)

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Jonathan Goodwin
Born (1980-02-20) 20 February 1980 (age 44)
Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Occupation(s) escape artist and daredevil
Years active2005–2021
Websitethedaredevil.com Edit this at Wikidata

Jonathan Goodwin (born 20 February 1980) is a Welsh former escapologist and daredevil, who retired after severing his spinal cord, amongst other severe injuries, during a 2021 stunt.

Early life

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Goodwin was born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales, and grew up in Robeston Wathen.[1][2] He attended the since-closed Tasker Milward Voluntary Controlled School in Haverfordwest.[3]

Career

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He first appeared on Channel 4 TV programme Dirty Tricks and has subsequently appeared in TV specials The Seven Stupidest Things to Escape From, Deathwish Live, and Monkey Magic, as well as Discovery Channel's One Way Out and How Not to Become Shark Bait in which he allowed himself to be attacked by a Caribbean reef shark. Goodwin returned to Discovery Channel in 2009 for a ten-part series of One Way Out which also starred engineer Terry Stroud. He also appeared in an episode of the Channel 4 programme Balls of Steel, with his father helping him with a stunt.

On 11 September 2012, it was announced that Goodwin would be appearing in his own series on UKTV's Watch, entitled The Incredible Mr. Goodwin. The show included a wide variety of stunts, from free climbing skyscrapers to "extreme planking", and started airing in early 2013. It was also shown on UKTV's Dave and on BBC America beginning in July 2013.[4][5]

On 9 March 2013, Goodwin appeared on The Jonathan Ross Show and performed the stunt of lying on a single nail and having a breeze block broken on his chest with a sledgehammer.[citation needed]

In April 2019, he appeared on the 13th series of Britain's Got Talent, and made it to the finals performing "buried alive", the first time this stunt had ever been attempted on a stage. [citation needed]

Goodwin performed on the Las Vegas show Fantasy at the Luxor between October 2020 and September 2021.[6][7] As part of one set, he used a bullwhip. In another set, he was blindfolded as he used a crossbow to hit progressively tinier objects held in the hands and mouth of a helper.[7][8]

In 2020, he appeared on America's Got Talent, where he finished as a semifinalist.[9]

Injuries

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In October 2021, Goodwin was hospitalised following injuries sustained during a stunt rehearsal for America's Got Talent: Extreme. The stunt was supposed to involve Goodwin escaping from a straitjacket while suspended upside-down 30 feet between two cars. Instead, he became crushed between the cars as they caught fire.

Goodwin sustained many injuries, including third-degree burns, a broken spine, a severed spinal cord, and two broken shoulder blades. He shattered both legs and lost a kidney. He was discharged from hospital in February 2022 but was left paralysed from the waist down, requiring the use of a wheelchair.[10][11]

Personal life

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Goodwin is divorced from his first wife, Katy, with whom he has a daughter.[12]

Goodwin is engaged to actress Amanda Abbington.[13] They had been social media friends for a decade, but met only after her split from Martin Freeman. They spoke by phone for some time before meeting in person. Goodwin proposed marriage within 30 minutes of their first meeting, in Vienna, which Abbington accepted.[13][14][15]

Around five weeks after they got engaged, Goodwin's accident occurred. Not knowing if he would survive surgery, he thanked Abbington for their time together. He also offered her a release on their engagement, in light of his paralysis, which she rejected.[13][16][15][17]

References

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  1. ^ "I'm with stupid". WalesOnline. 30 January 2006. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  2. ^ Hughes, Adam (20 October 2021). "Pembrokeshire stuntman recovering after America's Got Talent Extreme stunt goes wrong". Western Telegraph. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  3. ^ Brinded, Lianna (25 November 2013). "Dangerman and Escapologist Jonathan Goodwin, Britain's 21st Century Houdini (Part 1) [VIDEO]". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  4. ^ "'Dangerman: The Incredible Mr. Goodwin' to Premiere on BBC AMERICA July 8". BBC America. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  5. ^ Berenz, Ryan (10 July 2013). "BBC America's Danger Man: Behind the wild stunts of Jonathan Goodwin". Channel Guide Magazine. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  6. ^ Katsilometes, John (13 October 2023). "Vegas 'daredevil' suing 'AGT' after 2021 accident". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  7. ^ a b Katsilometes, John (18 October 2021). "'Daredevil' Jonathan Goodwin recovering; 'AGT: Extreme' pauses shooting". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  8. ^ Radke, Brock (18 May 2021). "Daredevil Jonathan Goodwin Delights Audiences at 'Fantasy' in Las Vegas". Las Vegas Magazine. Greenspun Media Group. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  9. ^ "AGT: Extreme Contestant Jonathan Goodwin Hospitalized After Daredevil Stunt Goes Wrong". People. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Britain's Got Talent star Jonathan Goodwin paralysed". BBC News. 4 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Britain's Got Talent star Jonathan Goodwin paralysed after TV stunt went wrong". 4 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Britain's Got Talent: Who is Jonathan Goodwin? Wife, age, career of escapologist and daredevil". Heart. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  13. ^ a b c "Britain's Got Talent star Jonathan Goodwin paralysed". BBC News. 3 May 2022.
  14. ^ Cernik, Lizzie (28 December 2022). "How Amanda Abbington met Jonathan Goodwin: 'I was on him like a rat up a drainpipe'". The Guardian.
  15. ^ a b "Britain's Got Talent performer on life after near-death fall". BBC News. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  16. ^ Cernik, Lizzie (28 December 2022). "How Amanda Abbington met Jonathan Goodwin: 'I was on him like a rat up a drainpipe'". The Guardian.
  17. ^ Atad, Corey (6 May 2022). "Jonathan Goodwin Told Wife Amanda Abbington She Had A 'Get Out Of Jail Free Card' To Leave Him After 'AGT: Extreme' Accident Left Him Paralyzed". ET Canada. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
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