HBO is facing renewed scrutiny over safety protocols on the set of its Game of Thrones franchise following the emergence of a video capturing a stunt accident from November 2014, during production of the show's fifth season. This incident occurred years before a similar, more recent injury.
In the footage—obtained by Deadline but not publicly released to protect the identity of the source—stunt performer Andy Pilgrim is seen fracturing his ankle during a complex stunt for the season 5 episode "Hardhome."
Legal documents from 2019 reveal Pilgrim's claim that his ankle was broken while performing a stunt involving a 16-foot wooden wall that collapsed. Though the stunt was originally rehearsed using a crane to lower the wall safely, the method was altered just before filming, increasing the risk of injury. Deadline states that the video they reviewed supports Pilgrim's account.
Rowley Irlam, the stunt coordinator who designed and oversaw the stunt, has defended his work. He continues to work with HBO as a stunt coordinator on the Game of Thrones spinoff, House of the Dragon.
“With over 20 years of experience as a stunt coordinator, I have safely managed hundreds of intricate stunt sequences in film and television,” Irlam stated in an HBO-released comment. “Safety is our top priority in designing every stunt. On the rare occasion an injury occurs, it is deeply distressing for all involved.”
He continued, “The incident involving Mr. Pilgrim happened 11 years ago. The matter was resolved between Mr. Pilgrim and the production company, with no rulings or findings of personal fault against me. After the incident, Mr. Pilgrim continued to work on my team for two more seasons as a stunt performer and safety professional. The allegations being made are entirely unfounded and incorrect.”
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The network has also voiced support for Irlam. “We treat these issues with the utmost seriousness. Mr. Irlam is an acclaimed and respected stunt coordinator with a long track record on HBO productions,” an HBO spokesperson said. “As an expert in a highly physical field, we are fully confident in his commitment to upholding the rigorous safety standards expected on our sets.”
Four years after Pilgrim's injury, he settled out of court with Fire & Blood Productions, the company behind Game of Thrones, for £500,000 (approximately $686,000). That same year, in 2018, another stunt performer, Casey Michaels, sustained a career-ending ankle injury during season 8 after falling from a 12-foot ledge into a pit of cardboard boxes.
Irlam also supervised the stunt that ended Michaels' career. She claims that changes were made between rehearsal and filming, which she believes led to her injury. In 2023, Michaels settled her lawsuit and was awarded £7 million (about $9.3 million)—significantly more than the £4 million (around $5.3 million) she had originally sought.
