Hong Kong action veteran Philip Ng recently recounted a life-threatening on-set incident that left him with his most severe injuries to date while promoting his latest feature, The Armoured Car Heist. Speaking at a promotional event on May 23, Ng detailed the harrowing mishap that occurred during the filming of a complex stunt sequence, highlighting the physical sacrifices required in high-octane cinema.
The actor, known for his martial arts prowess, explained that the accident necessitated two major surgeries and a two-week hospital stay, marking a significant professional setback. Despite the trauma, Ng affirmed his commitment to delivering compelling performances for his fans.
On-Set Stunt Goes Dangerously Wrong
The incident occurred during a dynamic sequence that required Ng to execute a demanding transfer between moving vehicles.
“I was instructed to kick open the door of a moving carriage and then climb across to another vehicle,” Ng explained to reporters. “However, as I was performing the maneuver, a gun holster strap fell and snagged my foot, causing me to be dragged for a considerable distance.”
The friction from the dragging, even through heavy stunt footwear, led to catastrophic injuries to his lower leg. The impact not only shredded his thick boots but also ground the skin and tissue from his left heel, leaving the bone exposed—an injury recognized by medical professionals as a severe compound trauma.
Ng underwent immediate surgical intervention. “I required two operations,” he stated. “The first focused on clearing the necrotic, or dead, tissue. The second involved a reconstructive procedure where muscle was taken from my thigh to fill the void in my heel. I still bear the scar today.”
Recovery and Future Plans
Following the accident, the film’s production team and executives, including the producer and director, maintained close contact with the star during his hospitalization. Recognizing the severity of his injuries, they temporarily restructured the shooting schedule, prioritizing non-action, or “soft,” scenes until Ng could fully recover and complete the remaining physical sequences.
Ng admitted that viewing footage of the accident afterward was unsettling. “Seeing the terrifying moment of my injury in the behind-the-scenes material still gives me a fright,” he confessed, adding that he always endeavors to give his maximum effort on every project, driven by a desire for audience appreciation.
In related cinematic news, Ng confirmed his absence from the forthcoming prequels and sequels to the blockbuster action film Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In. His character, the menacing antagonist Wang Kau, met his demise in the original movie, precluding his return in subsequent installments.
Looking ahead, the prolific actor is currently immersed in the post-production phase of several upcoming films. With a welcome break scheduled for the Christmas holiday, Ng plans to focus on family and personal life. He intends to spend the festive season with his girlfriend, Renci Lee, preparing a special Christmas gift and planning a cinema date to enjoy one of his recent movies together.
The incident underscores the inherent risks professional stunt artists and action actors face, often pushing beyond physical limits to create memorable cinematic moments, while also highlighting the dedicated recovery and commitment needed to return to the screen.
