Stuntman sues over burns from Gladiator II ship explosion

British stuntman Edward Sarsfield has filed a lawsuit against August Street Films over severe burns suffered on the set of Gladiator II. In 2023, while playing a dead soldier on a burning ship in Morocco, a gas‑powered flame bar exploded, sending 20‑foot flames onto his costume. The blaze ignited about 15 % of his skin, covering his face, arms, hands, both knees and his right wrist. Sarsfield said he panicked, fell a few times and ran before colleagues doused him with bottles of water, removed his clothing and wrapped the burns in clingfilm. He was air‑lifted to a hospital in Marrakesh, remained in intense pain, and was returned to the UK four days later for further treatment. The legal claim seeks £200,000 in damages and describes permanent scarring that is hypersensitive to sunlight, loss of physical conditioning and psychological symptoms. August Street Films, a subsidiary of Paramount, admitted liability for the accident but denied any admission about the injuries. Paramount said several crew members were hurt in the 2023 stunt but all were in stable condition and received medical care. Neither Sarsfield, August Street Films nor Paramount offered further comment. ## Context Stunt accidents on high‑budget film sets often lead to legal actions when safety measures are questioned. This case highlights the risks actors and stunt personnel face during realistic pyrotechnic scenes.