A tragic incident recently unfolded on the set of the film “Zero Hour Fifteen,” where Liu Ximo, a 24-year-old actor from mainland China, sustained serious injuries while performing as the lead for the first time. The accident occurred during a difficult fire-breathing stunt, resulting in extensive burns to his face and neck, including skin peeling and blistering. Disturbing images of his injuries have circulated online, alarming many netizens.
According to reports from mainland media, the incident took place on November 5, while the crew was filming in Kunming for the internet movie “Zero Hour Fifteen.” Liu, who has prior experience in fire-breathing and stunts, chose to perform this hazardous scene without a stunt double to achieve the best visual effects.
Despite the crew conducting multiple safety tests and rehearsals, a sudden gust of wind caused the flames to shift uncontrollably during filming. This unforeseen circumstance led the flames to engulf Liu’s face, neck, and ears. Rapid response from on-site staff helped extinguish the fire and getting Liu to a hospital for urgent care.
Medical examinations revealed that Liu sustained second-degree burns on his face, with some areas experiencing skin peeling and blister formation. Fortunately, his condition has stabilized. He took to Weibo on November 7 to clarify that he delayed providing an explanation for two days, concerned that his family might worry upon seeing images of the accident. However, after footage captured by bystanders was leaked, he decided to be more forthcoming.
In his post, Liu expressed his deep appreciation for this opportunity as his first leading role, emphasizing his fear of abandoning the project midway. Following the stabilization of his condition, he proactively applied to return to work. Currently, crew members are taking turns to shield him with umbrellas to protect his wounds from sunlight exposure.
However, Liu’s facial injuries have raised concerns about potential scarring, prompting him to seek advice from his followers on social media about methods to minimize scars. Following this incident’s revelation, numerous netizens have shown support and reminded others to consider safety measures carefully when performing stunts to avoid risking their health.
The unfortunate event has drawn parallels with the horrific experiences of Taiwanese artist Selina Ren and Chinese actor Yu Haoming back in 2010.
During the filming of the television drama “I Have an Appointment with Spring” (later renamed “Love in Spring”) at the Chadian Film and Television Base in Shanghai, both actors faced a terrifying situation. They were shooting a scene where the male lead rescues the female lead from an explosion. Five explosive points were set up outdoors, with plans to detonate them sequentially from a distance after the actors exited for safety.
Pre-shoot safety rehearsals were conducted multiple times without incident. However, moments into the official take, a miscalculation by the explosion crew caused all five points to detonate simultaneously, engulfing both actors in flames.
At the time, Selina, 28 years old, suffered severe burns over 54% of her body, with nearly 80% classified as third-degree burns, primarily affecting her back and limbs. Dressed in a qipao and nylon stockings for her role, the high temperatures melted the stockings, causing them to adhere to her skin. The most severe injuries occurred on her legs, with up to 36% of the area affected by deep necrosis. She endured multiple skin graft surgeries, including painful procedures to harvest skin from her scalp.
Meanwhile, Yu Haoming, aged 22 at the time, experienced second- and third-degree burns covering 35% to 39% of his body. Despite having a smaller burn area than Selina, he faced significant facial injuries due to being positioned directly towards the explosion, leading to severe alterations to his lips and a life-threatening risk of disfigurement. His most critical injuries were concentrated on his back and arms, requiring an extended stay in the Intensive Care Unit to stabilize his condition.
These past incidents serve as a sobering reminder of the inherent dangers in the film industry, underscoring the importance of stringent safety protocols and the well-being of actors as they pursue their artistic endeavors.