Instead of giving in to his growing age, Jackie Chan still performs his own stunts in his action movies. And thus, his list of injuries goes hand in hand with his extensive filmography. Spending enough time doing his own stunts, the actor has risked his life and has damaged his limbs countless times.
But nothing haunts him more than his horrific water accident while filming Vanguard. Almost drowning while filming stunts involving a jet ski, Jackie Chan scared the life out of his film crew. With his lack of swimming skills, being trapped underwater, and being unable to come up for air, Chan almost collapsed until last minute savior.
Jackie Chan Recalled His Near Death Jet-ski Accident
Performing his stunts all by himself Jackie Chan is quite prone to life-threatening accidents while shooting his films. However, nothing scared him or his crew more than his water accident while shooting his 2020 action flick, Vanguard. Although the actor is habituated to performing his stunts, he rarely ever had to risk his life in waters, especially considering his lack of swimming skills.
Recalling his accident from the set of Vanguard, Jackie Chan shared the story during his appearance on Good Morning America. Discussing the scene involving a jet ski, where the force of water flipped it and trapped him underwater, the actor mentioned how he almost drowned while shooting the scene.
“I was doing the Jet-ski, where I save the girl. But there was a big rock and rapid water. I was about to turn and I thought it’s over. But as soon as I went [to a particular area] water came in and flipped [the jet-ski] and I go down. After I go down, the water just suck me down…I cannot turn the Jet-ski. I said ‘Jackie don’t panic’, I don’t know how much water I drank”.
Narrating his near-death experience, Jackie Chan almost fumbled for words to explain how it felt at that moment. Scared of collapsing underwater, as he was unable to come up and breathe, Chan then shared how he was eventually saved.
Jackie Chan Scared The Life Out Of His Director And Crew
Sharing his close call to death, while shooting Vanguard, Jackie Chan mentioned how the entire crew along with him, were worried. Discussing further with Good Morning America, how he was eventually saved at the last minute by a lifeguard, Chan disclosed the reaction of the director and the entire crew.
“I touched and slid [the jet-ski], there was a tiny hole. Then I get up and see the crew, but they cannot see me. Then I see the lifeguard saying ‘under the water’, and I’m just trying to breathe,”
Hearing the story from Jackie Chan himself, the host asked, “But you also don’t swim”, to which the actor replied, “No”. Stunned by Chan’s reply the host asked, “So why do you put yourself in water stunts?”, and the audience broke out laughing when the actor mentioned, “I thought jet-ski was safe”.
“Then after I turn around, I see the director crying and going ‘Chan’s here’. And I was like, ‘what? what? what? What’s going on?’. But at night, after going back to hotel, I stayed by myself, while drinking tea I said, ‘wow, I almost died today’”.
Stating how this is his life, Jackie Chan took pride in defying death, every single time.
Vanguard is streaming on Lionsgate Play.
Source: Good Morning America
