Hollywood stuntwoman suffers serious head injury ‘on set of Amazon’s Lord of the Rings’

A world-famous stuntwoman has suffered a serious head injury while on set filming for an upcoming production in New Zealand.

Dayna Grant, who has been involved in movies and TV shows including Wonder Woman, Mad Max and Xena: Warrior Princess, suffered a traumatic brain injury after the accident.

According to a ‘Give a little‘ crowdfunding page created on Monday, she undertook CT and MRI scans, which diagnosed her with an 8mm aneurysm and neck injuries.

In a tearful video last night, the stuntwoman sobbed: ‘Hi everyone, I just wanted to say this. I’m absolutely speechless with all the love and support from everyone all around the world.

‘I can’t write it in a message, I just wanted to reply to all of you but I can’t. Thank you so much!’

Lucy Lawless, star of Xena: Warrior Princess, took to Twitter to ask fans to contribute. 

Danya Grant posted a tearful Twitter video thanking fans. she sobbed: ‘Oh my God, I look terrible!’

Dayna Grant (pictured in costume), who has been involved in movies and TV shows including Wonder Woman, Mad Max and Xena: Warrior Princess, is said to have been experiencing symptoms of a traumatic brain injury after the accident in New Zealand

Dayna, pictured above preparing for a car stunt, requires emergency brain surgery

The page says that surgeons recommended the stuntwoman have immediate, emergency surgery, but for this to be done quickly the page says it will have to be done privately which would cost $NZ60,000 (around £30,000).

‘As is often the way with these things insurance and liability are a maze of red tape and potentially life threatening delay through the Public Health system,’ the page says. ‘Immediate, private Surgery costs $NZ60,000,’ it notes.

Ms Grant had been working on upcoming multi-million pound Lord of the Rings television series that is currently in production in New Zealand, and being produced by Amazon Studios.

An Amazon Studious source confirmed that Danya had suffered a fall while working on Lord Of The Rings and suffered a mild concussion.

But they said doctors cleared her to return to work and she has since worked on at least four other productions as well as running her weekend stunt school before she fell ill.

Filming for the series, billed to be the most expensive television series ever made, began in February 2020. It was put on pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but restarted in September 2020. The first episode is expected sometime in 2021.

Ms Grant has three children, her youngest of which is seven years old. She also owns a stunt school in New Zealand called NZ Stunt School.

‘We would like to give Dayna’s friends, film Whanau (family) including the Stunt community and fans of her work around the world the opportunity to help,’ the page says in its plea for help. 

Pictured: A Lord of the Rings news Twitter account claimed the stuntwoman had ‘taken a huge hit’ on the set of the new series being filmed in New Zealand

The Give a Little page was shared on Twitter by Lucy Lawless to her over 300,000 followers. The actress pledged to match every dollar donated to Ms Grant, and urged all fans of Xena: Warrior Princess to donate

‘If you know and love Dayna, have enjoyed her work or shared her training/inspirational workshops please help us get her looked after as soon as possible and with the best care.’

As of Monday, the page has raised over $NZ34,000 (around £17,300) towards Ms Grant’s surgery. It closes for donations on July 25.  

According to her website, Ms Grant started as the stunt double to Lucy Lawless, who played the title character Xena: Warrior Princess. Since then, Ms Grant has worked in the industry for 20 years, for Charlize Theron, Tilda Swinton, Lynda Carter, Gwyneth Paltrow, Bridget Regan and Ingrid Bolso Berdal, her website adds. 

She also starred in Wonder Woman 1984, which was released last year.

According to her website, Ms Grant started as the stunt double to Lucy Lawless, who played the title character Xena: Warrior Princess (pictured)

The page says that surgeons recommended Ms Grant have immediate, emergency surgery, but for this to be done quickly the page says it will have to be done privately which would cost $NZ60,000 (around £30,000). Pictured: Dayna Grant doing a stunt in a picture on Instagram

The Give a Little page was shared on Twitter by Lucy Lawless to her over 300,000 followers. The actress pledged to match every dollar donated to Ms Grant, and urged all fans of Xena: Warrior Princess to donate.

The actress also questioned why the injury wasn’t covered under New Zealand’s health coverage. 

The MailOnline has contacted Amazon Studios for comment.