Daniel Radcliffe has said his former Harry Potter stuntman David Holmes is an "extraordinary person" ahead of a documentary which details Holmes' experiences since becoming paralysed in an accident on set.
Radcliffe, who played the titular wizard in the beloved film series, has served as an executive producer on the new documentary David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived which is described as a "coming-of-age story" about the stuntman.
Holmes was a teenage gymnast from Essex when he was chosen to play Radcliffe's double in the first Harry Potter film, when the young actor was just 11.
They worked together for the next decade before an accident on set that left Holmes paralysed with a debilitating spinal injury.
While rehearsing a stunt for the penultimate film in the series, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Holmes broke his neck and was permanently paralysed.
Radcliffe, who has remained close friends with Holmes over the years since the accident, spoke about his admiration for him.
He told BBC News: "Dave is, and has always been, an extraordinary person, before and after the accident.
"I want people to get to know my friend, because he's so much fun, he's so funny, he's so smart, he's so kind, and so generous.
"And just an amazing person to be around. That's why I have wanted to share Dave with the world for so long."
"Dave, still, is one of the most important people in my life. As he has been for the last twenty years," he continued.
"He was somebody that was so incredibly fun to hang out with when I was young.
"But then as I grew up he became a real guide to me, and kind of a mentor and someone who really looked out for me, and that really has just continued as we've grown."
Holmes said of his friendship with the actor: "He was like my little brother on the films, and then grew to be one of my best friends. He's always been there for me."
The former stuntman said that reflecting on his experiences for the documentary hasn't been the easiest journey: "Some of it is not the easiest of things to digest. I just want to be honest. And honestly living with a broken neck is hard.
"I've said before, breaking my neck made a man of me.
"And looking back. I'm very grateful that I've managed to retain my sense of self, which is probably my biggest achievement."
He added: "I'm very fortunate to have a lot of love in my life. And you know that message 'it takes a village to raise a child'. Well, it takes a village to survive a spinal injury as well. And I have a large village of a lot of love so I'm very thankful for that."
David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived will be available on demand on Sky Documentaries and streaming service Now from 18 November.
