The Boy Who Survived

«The story of Harry Potter is about the triumph of light over darkness, and that is a great motto to live by. But it takes work. Real work. We will face difficult times at different points, but it is up to us to try to find the light in those situations or to settle for sitting in the dark.

I quickly learned that sitting in the dark only brings more darkness. But, fortunately, the same applies to light; if you look for it, it will find you.»

— David Holmes

As the stunt double for British actor Daniel Radcliffe during the filming of the Harry Potter films, gymnast and actor David Holmes played a key role in the cinematic adaptation of J. K. Rowling's story, a saga that left an indelible mark on an entire generation of fans. Holmes's work brought some of the most memorable action sequences in the Potter world to life, including the famous and daring Quidditch competition.

It seemed like a dream world to him, until an accident during the filming of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 changed his life.

During an acrobatics rehearsal, Holmes broke his neck and was paralyzed. From a prodigious junior gymnast and acrobat prodigy to an extraordinarily qualified film stunt double, his story became a brutally honest portrait of a man who lost everything and had to find ways to rebuild his life by focusing on love, friendship, and optimism. David Holmes would go on to create an autobiographical documentary that was nominated for a BAFTA.