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The danger is part of the thrill - but sometimes, the risks behind the camera turn devastatingly real.

The danger is part of the thrill - but sometimes, the risks behind the camera turn devastatingly real. From high-speed stunts to split-second special effects, TV shows and films have long pushed the limits to create jaw-dropping moments. But while audiences see the finished product, they don't always see the dangers lurking just out of frame.

Over the years, a number of stunts have gone tragically wrong - with fatal consequences that have rocked the industry and left productions under intense scrutiny. In some cases, corners were cut. In others, freak accidents struck without warning. From the horrifying on-air death linked to Noel Edmonds' show to shocking Hollywood set disasters, these are the moments where entertainment turned deadly - and the tragic stories behind them.

A split-second stunt went horribly wrong on the set of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - leaving stunt double David Holmes paralysed for life.

The talented gymnast, who doubled for Daniel Radcliffe, was just 24 when a harness stunt violently jerked him backwards, breaking his neck. Holmes later recalled being fully conscious as it happened, knowing instantly the severity of his injuries.

Despite losing mobility, he has never blamed the films, calling it "the job I chose" - and remains proud of his role in the beloved franchise.

A routine scene turned tragic on The Walking Dead when experienced stuntman John Bernecker fell more than 30 feet onto concrete during rehearsals in 2017.

The fall, meant to be a controlled balcony drop, went horribly wrong when he lost his footing. Despite being rushed to hospital, he later died from his injuries - sending shockwaves through the industry.

A crew member was killed on the set of The Dukes of Hazzard after a camera truck overturned during filming in 1981.

The fatal accident led to legal action from the victim's family, shining a spotlight on safety concerns during high-speed stunt production - long before modern safety standards were tightened.

A stunt gone wrong turned deadly on the set of Deadpool 2 when a stuntwoman lost control of her motorcycle during filming in Vancouver in 2017.

The bike reportedly sped forward without braking before smashing through a glass window of a building, killing her instantly. The shocking accident stunned the production, with star Ryan Reynolds later paying tribute as the tragedy reignited concerns over stunt safety on major film sets.

Hollywood was left reeling when a prop gun fired by Alec Baldwin killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust.

During a 2021 rehearsal, the firearm - believed to be safe - discharged a live round, fatally wounding Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin was later charged with involuntary manslaughter, but the case collapsed in 2024 when a judge dismissed the charge over withheld evidence.

The tragedy sent shockwaves through Hollywood, exposing major failures in on-set safety and sparking global calls for stricter rules around firearms.

Noel Edmonds saw his hit show axed overnight after a horrific on-air stunt ended in tragedy.

During The Late, Late Breakfast Show, viewer Michael Lush died while attempting a 120ft bungee jump when a clip failed, sending him plunging to the ground. The segment - part of the show's high-risk "Give it a Whirl" stunts - had reportedly involved minimal training and raised safety concerns even before the fatal attempt.

The shocking incident in 1986 led to the show's immediate cancellation and Edmonds' resignation - marking one of the darkest moments in British TV history.

A routine film shoot turned into one of Hollywood's darkest tragedies when actor Vic Morrow and two young children were killed in a catastrophic helicopter stunt gone wrong.

While filming Twilight Zone: The Movie in 1982, an explosion struck a low-flying helicopter, sending it crashing into the set below. Morrow and seven-year-old Myca Dinh Le were decapitated, while six-year-old Renee Shin-Yi Chen was crushed to death in front of her parents.

Investigations later found the scene was "poorly planned" and even revealed the children were illegally on set - cementing the disaster as one of the most shocking in film history.

Beloved British star Roy Kinnear died after a stunt he reportedly dreaded went horribly wrong on set.

While filming The Return of the Musketeers, the actor was thrown from a horse while riding at speed across a cobbled bridge - a scene he had warned was too dangerous. Despite concerns, no stunt double was used, and a last-minute attempt to make the surface safer actually made it more slippery.

He sustained a broken pelvis on September 19, 1988, in Toledo, Spain, and died the following day from a heart attack in a Madrid hospital.

His son, Rory Kinnear, later revealed: "No one has ever seen a shot and thought, ‘that is worth the death of whoever made it'," as calls for safer sets continue decades on.

Reality TV turned deadly when a crew member on COPS was shot during a police chase.

Filming a robbery response in Nebraska, the sound supervisor was struck by gunfire during the chaotic shootout - highlighting the unpredictable risks of filming real-life law enforcement.