Milla Jovovich has been reaching out to her millions of fans and followers to extend their prayers, well wishes, and positive thoughts for her stunt double on Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, Olivia Jackson. Ms. Jackson is still hospitalized, after a freak accident on the set of the latest and final Resident Evil film set left Olivia critically injured.
“I sit down to write this post with a heavy heart, because a terrible accident rocked our set on Saturday the 5th of September,” 39-year-old Jovovich wrote in a Facebook post, according to US Weekly . “My incredibly talented stunt double, Olivia Jackson, collided with a camera crane while performing a motorcycle stunt and it put her in the hospital with severe, multiple injuries. The cast and crew of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter have been totally devastated and are waiting with bated breath for news on her recovery -we now understand she is stable and being carefully monitored by very experienced South African doctors.”
Although Milla was off set at the time of the accident, she has been deeply affected by the accident and touched by the entire Resident Evil film crew’s dedication to the injured stunt woman in ensuring she was helped to the best of everyone’s ability.
“None of us have experienced anything like this in our careers making action films and hope we never do again,” the actress posted. “But the production reacted very quickly to ensure she received the best care and also in reaching out to her family and making sure they were informed and looked after during this overwhelmingly difficult time. Thank God, they have been by her side through out this harrowing week.”
Milla spoke kindly of Jackson’s talents and abilities in the post, and, speaking about how little she actually knows the stunt double, her concern and empathy are felt in her admiration of the injured stunt double.
“It’s a miracle that she survived,” the Resident Evil actress continued. “I didn’t know her very well, as we were all just getting going with the film, but the few times we rehearsed together, I really looked up to her because she danced through the choreography, beautiful and graceful. It’s a testament to Olivia’s strength that she managed to survive and also the quick reaction of our on set safety officer and his team that she has finally been pronounced stable.”
As ABC News reports, Milla Jovovich asked for the good thoughts of her fans for the speedy recovery of Olivia Jackson, who is currently under the supervision of South African doctors and was last reported to be in stable condition.
“All of us here have been praying every single day for her and her family and sending our thoughts out hoping some of the positive energy reaches her, because she truly needs it…” she wrote. “I would really appreciate it if you would take a moment out of your busy days ahead and pray for Olivia’s full recovery too. She needs all the help she can get right now and every bit of the good energy we can send.”
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is currently filming in South Africa under the direction of Milla Jovovich’s husband, Paul W.S. Anderson, and is scheduled for a January 2017 release.
[Featured image: Milla Jovovich image courtesy of Jason Merritt/Getty Images for amfAR; Olivia Jackson image courtesy of Milla Jovovich/Instagram]