A stunt rider has died on the set of Deadpool 2 in Canada. Photo/AP
A stunt rider has died on the set of Deadpool 2 in Canada. Photo/AP
Ryan Reynolds has paid tribute to the stunt woman who was killed in a motorcycle crash on Monday morning while filming the upcoming Deadpool sequel.
"Today, we tragically lost a member of our crew while filming Deadpool,' wrote the film's star in a message posted to his social media accounts.
"We're heartbroken, shocked and devastated... but recognise nothing can come close to the grief and inexplicable pain her family and loves ones must feel in this moment."
Reynolds finished by saying: "My heart pours out to them - along with each and every person she touched in this world."
The victim's identity is not being released at this time.
Global News reports that the female victim lost control of the motorcycle she was riding while filming a sequence for the movie shortly after 8am, causing her to ram the bike into the glass-enclosed lobby of the Shaw Tower in Vancouver.
Paramedics quickly arrived at the waterfront office building in the British Columbia city and were able to pull the woman from the wreckage and get her to the hospital, but her injuries were too severe.
Audio from the 911 call made after the crash reveals that the woman was not moving following the crash, with one man stating she flew across the street and remained airborne as she crashed through the glass.
The rescue vehicle was on-site for 45 minutes after loading in the victim and drove off without using its sirens according to CTV Vancouver.
"Vancouver Police can confirm that a female stunt driver has died on the set of Deadpool during a stunt on a motorcycle,' the local force said in a statement Monday.
"VPD officers are at the scene, along with officers from WorkSafeBC. More information will be released when it is available."
WorkSafeBC, who has five workers investigating the crash, also released a statement on Monday.
"WorkSafeBC was contacted by the Vancouver Police Department this morning at 8:31 a.m. regarding a serious incident in the 1000 Block of West Waterfront Road, Van B.C. WorkSafeBC has five officers at the incident site," said the agency.
"Two officers are inspecting the site for immediate occupational health and safety issues. Three officers are investigating the incident for cause and prevention under the Workers' Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation."
Eyewitnesses to the horrific tragedy claimed that they did not hear the motorcycle break before the crash.
A police officer examines a motorcycle after a female stunt driver working on the movie Deadpool died after a crash on set in Vancouver. Photo/AP
"People were running on the sidewalk, the motorcycle comes flying across the street, looks like from a ramp because it was in the air,' said one individual.
"[The victim was] standing on the bike, slams into that building, clearly hit and out-of-control and clearly not planned."
That person then added: "It was so out-of-control, it looked like an accident."
Another witness said they watched as the bike went "out-of-control," saying it then "flew right into the building."
Sharmina Kermalli said she had just walked into a Starbucks next door to where the accident happened when she heard a loud crash. She ran out of the coffee shop and saw glass still falling on the body of the woman.
The victim had completed the stunt successfully four times prior to the crash on the set of the film before something went wrong on the fifth attempt.
It is unclear still if those attempts were all being filmed or just practice runs for the young woman.
A police officer photographs a motorcycle after a female stunt driver working on the movie Deadpool died after a crash on set, in Vancouver. Photo / AP
She was reportedly travelling at a speed of approximately 35 mph when she crashed, hitting a pool before going into the building.
There were no other injuries reported and filming was halted for the day after the crash.
Investigators meanwhile were spotted on the scene snapping photos of the motorcycle and impact site as they try and piece together what caused the fatal crash.
Three workers have been assigned to the investigation while the other two were addressing any immediate concerns as a result of the accident.
Reynolds and his costar Zazie Beetz had been filmed riding bikes on the set of the film back on August 8 in Vancouver.
A number of local streets had been shut down for the past week according to residents to film bike scenes for the film.
The upcoming Marvel release also stars Josh Brolin and Jack Kesy along with Morena Baccarin and TJ Miller, who both appeared in the first film.
"We are deeply saddened by the accident that occurred on the set of Deadpool 2 this morning. Our hearts and prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues of our crew member during this difficult time," 21st Century Fox said in a statement on Monday.
Reynolds is a Vancouver native, having grown up in the British Columbia city before striking it big in Hollywood.
A police officer examines a motorcycle after a female stunt driver working on the movie Deadpool 2 died after a crash on set, in Vancouver. Photo / AP
It has been over 20 years since a stunt performer was killed in the city, with the last incident occurring in 1996 when a man's parachute failed to deploy after jumping from a helicopter on the set of the film Firestorm, which starred former football star Howie Long and James Cameron's wife Suzy Amis.
A performer was killed last month on the set of The Walking Dead in Georgia.
John Bernecker, 33, died from injuries he suffered after falling off a 25-foot balcony during filming for the show's upcoming season.
There was also an incident on the set of the upcoming sixth installment of the rebooted Mission Impossible franchise last week that left star Tom Cruise limping when he hit the side of a building after jumping off the structure for a sequence in the film.
