What Bones Weren’t Broken in This Hollywood Stunt Gone Wrong?
- Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:20am by
Liz Klimas
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A 23-year-old stuntman on a motocross bike shooting for a movie trailer was left with a broken neck, collarbone, lower back, pelvis, ribs and both arms during a failed stunt.
CBS News reports Mike Gaboff sped up a six-story ramp and was supposed to land into the lake, but instead went too far and slammed onto the asphalt on the other side.
(Image: YouTube Screenshot)
(Image: YouTube Screenshot)
Watch the report with footage of the accident:
The Messanger Press in Millstone, New Jersey, reported that the event took place in April, but it is just now starting to go viral on the web. The Messanger Press has more from Gaboff’s mother on his condition at the end of May as well as some other trials he is facing as a result of the accident:
”He is very positive and determined to get better,” Mrs. Gaboff said. “That’s important because you need to be positive in this situation.”
Nevertheless, Mike still is facing a long, painful recovery 2,375 miles away from his home and family in Millstone. His medical bills also are mounting so friends have stepped up to organize a series of fundraisers for the family.
Mrs. Gaboff said Mike does not qualify under workers compensation for medical benefits for his job-related injuries because he was hired to do the stunt as an “independent contractor” and was, therefore, not an employee of Break Media or Sony.
And since Mike is not a resident of California, he does not qualify for any of the health-care programs in that state for people with catastrophic injuries.
In addition to breaking multiple bones, he also suffered burns and a collapsed lung. With physical therapy — and lots of time — Gaboff most likely will learn to walk again.
The Messanger Press notes that Gaboff was on the Dr. Phil show a couple years ago where he acknowledged some of the risks associated with his job but said doing this is what made him happy and “there‘s always going to be stunts that aren’t successful.” This was one of them.
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Comments (88)
TWO BITS
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 9:30amNo brains, no brakes, no reverse, usually insures a really bad crack-up.
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 10:40amNo “re-do”
Report Post »Xyskalla
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 11:38amNo insurance.
This guy has other videos on YouTube, including a Worlds Dumbest Daredevil video from 2008.
Report Post »Yoselahonda
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 11:41amNo brains, exactly. What is he doing in that line of work without propper insurance?
Report Post »VastRightWingConspirator
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 12:48pmI thought stunt men did some math to figure weight, speed, angle of ascent and descent in order to know where they will land. Is this his job or a hobby?
Report Post »Ming The Merciless
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 2:20pmI think bath salts are to blame in the situation.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 3:17pm“CBS News reports Mike Gaboff sped up a six-story ramp….”
…..and no six-story (60 feet high) ramp either.
Maybe 60 feet long but not 60 feet high.
Report Post »LetUsReason
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 5:43pm@ MING
Hahahahaha! :-D Nice.
Report Post »thunder4570
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:24pmdoent qualify for cal. medical give up you citizenship and become ill. alien he would get all kinds of med from cal. and the fed!
Report Post »biffo
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 9:17amIf he held on to the bike, he would have had the proper air resistance pkg to slow down enough to land in the water. Letting go catapulted his much lighter body to far. The bike made the water.
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 10:40amOr push off the bike to propel yourself towards the water.
Report Post »One of the first rules of quads, dirtbikes, etc that I tell people is: If in doubt, bail out.
quickstudy
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 10:43amThe bike didn’t make the water. It also hit the beach.
Report Post »tajloc
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 9:14amDang…He didn’t make the Darwin awards…Almost though. I know lets regulate this industry. There must be a stunt czar somewhere.
Report Post »Don’t be expecting the media people to pay up. the church and friends need to step up.
tommyr
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 9:11amBet he had a headache after that happened.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 9:07amOuch, that WAS ROUGH jiggly PUFF!!!
Report Post »BlazeGlory
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 8:55am“Let’s see now. The end of the ramp is no more than 15 feet from the edge of the lake. Yep. By my calculations I should be going 50 mph at the end of the ramp.” Sounds like he needed a bigger lake.
Report Post »csbaby
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 8:53amLifestyle choice.
Report Post »Rashomon
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 8:47amI can’t see where landing in the lake would have been much better.
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 11:05amJust like hitting concrete!
Report Post »GIRTHMAN
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 8:35amAny wannabe stuntman/daredevil should read on EVIL KENIVAL. king of the dummies.
Hey ,I am gonna put a rocket on my car and shoot myself right across this canyon. Like a north Korean
Report Post »BigDaddyTex
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 8:33amHad he studied harder in physics class, we probably wouldn’t be reading about it now…
Report Post »But HEY! I‘m just sayin’……
Ming The Merciless
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 2:22pmHe should’ve let Mythbusters handle this.
Report Post »80mesh
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 8:14am40 some odd years ago when i used to race dirt bikes we had a saying ….. pain hurts
i guess that still holds true today
Report Post »GIRTHMAN
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 8:36amLive by the sword…..
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 9:12amPain hurts and stupid should.
Report Post »sawbuck
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 8:13amWell …Here’s a lesson for young people wanting to hit the “Job market”
As we see Companies cutting cost to be competitive…
Two phrase ..you should brush up on…and know what they mean to you.
and what are the pros and cons of them to you .If you except those terms.
( independent – contractor ) and (sub-contractor)..
Report Post »PATRIOTINTN
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 8:12amSony AND Break Media should help out with his medical bills. It’s not required under the terms of the rider being an independent contractor, but still. C’MON MAN!!! Have some decency!!!
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 8:28amI agree. The decent thing to do would be to help him. Gues they want to use their spending money to buy polticians. Wonder if we could start a shame thing online and tweeting?
Report Post »OhSuzieQ
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 8:38amI agree Patriotintn.
Report Post »Abraham Young
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 8:38amEveryone thinks like you: Everybody else should pay the bills. What are YOU doing to help out?
Report Post »mm_vcdl
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 9:13amAbraham – almost a good point, but he wasn’t doing a job for any of us, but for Sony and Break. He’s not saying they should be forced to pay, just that it would be decent of them if they helped out.
Report Post »Scarecr0w
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 9:14amI agree a decent company, or I bet a small business like mine, would step up and at least help this guy out. I would also guess he has lawyers trying to make some kind of case up for him too.
Report Post »scrapadapolis
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:59amI guess California only lets illegal mexicans get free hospital care.If you white or uninsured goodluck..here’s your bill.
Report Post »rickc34
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 8:58amain’t that the truth. The clog up emergency services when their kids have colds. Bringing dieseases back that we had under control but this is what the left wants. Now this kid will be indebted for the rest of his life. He could form an online fundraiser to get some of the funds and use the video to tell his tale.
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 9:23amMy thoughts exactly upon reading the article.
Report Post »REDNECK CALIPHATE
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:59amPretty chickens–t of sony and break media not to step forward and take care of this guy. It is there movie. And I’m sure they can handle it. I‘m not saying it’s there responsibility at all, but when you ask a guy to risk his life for your movie, then he almost dies, and then they say, “Too bad for you buddy! Should of had insurance.” Pretty messed up to me.
Report Post »sawbuck
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 8:33amYou missed the most important part of the story..
~~~~~~~~~~
Mrs. Gaboff said Mike does not qualify under workers compensation
for medical benefits for his job-related injuries because he was hired
to do the stunt as an “independent contractor” and was, therefore,
not an employee of Break Media or Sony.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Know what it means to be a “independent contractor”..!
Meaning ..YOU…are …your own business..…!
And all businesses are responsible for their own insurance..
Report Post »Benefits ..and…. “workers-comp” .
Jezcruzen
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:56am“Stupid is as stupid does”
Report Post »NCREPUB
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:55amIf He were illigal He would get top notch health care.
Report Post »Lemacs
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:51amI guess sometimes its not very good to give 100%
Report Post »Ruckus_Tom
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:50am“The candle that burns twice as bright burns twice as fast.” The Blade Runner … the doctor before he had his eyes poked out by Roy (Rudger Hower).
Good luck Mr. Stuntman. And live it up while you can.
Report Post »Inlightofthings
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:50amLikely the result of a rounding error in the calculations….
Report Post »MotoMofo
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:43amI wish the guy well but this is why math is important kids.
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 8:02amExactly. You would think that they would at least hire a reputable physicist to perform the speed and trajectory calculations. Geez, that is stunt motorcycle 101 stuff.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:36amDid you see that new millionaire fly by on a motorcycle?
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:29amOuch!
Report Post »poor guy.
RepubliCorp
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:26amPlay with fire……….
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:24amIf you choose Risk for a Profession… then accept the Consequences!
Report Post »JDoke
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 9:28amWhy are we lecturing this guy for choosing the profession he did. He hasn’t come out and demanded money or help for his plight. He broke every bone in his body and we are kicking him while he’s down. I just feel bad for the guy, stunt man or not.
Report Post »arx
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 9:42pmI’m with you JDOKE. No one can argue it was risky and ultimately idiotic to miscalculate his trajectory so badly and he’s paying a very high price for it, and likely will the rest of his life. I have nothing but sympathy for this young man. I remember being 23 once.
All you people making your snarky, callous, and heartless comments are really just disgusting. Look at it from other possible perspective besides your cold and judgemental seat of self appointed judgement. Maybe he had a young family to feed and needed the work. Maybe his throttle stuck. Maybe his support staff was smoking dope while they crunched their numbers. In any case, there is no point in kicking a guy who is and will go through more physical and psychological pain than all of you moving going numbnuts combined. I sincerely hope it won’t take something so tragic to knock some humanity into you.
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