Amanda Abbington on finding out about Jonathan Goodwins accident

Amanda Abbington on finding out about Jonathan Goodwin’s accident – as couple shares wedding details

Amanda Abbington has opened up about the “crazy whirlwind” of events after she found out her fiancé Jonathan Goodwin was in an accident.

Jonathan was left paralyzed for life in a tragic accident in October 2021 after attempting a stunt attempting to escape from a straitjacket while hanging upside down 30 feet in the air.

The 48-year-old actress began dating the 42-year-old America’s Got Talent star following her split from Martin Freeman.

Difficult: Amanda Abbington has opened up about the 'crazy whirlwind' of events after finding out her fiancé Jonathan Goodwin was in an accident

Difficult: Amanda Abbington has opened up about the ‘crazy whirlwind’ of events after finding out her fiancé Jonathan Goodwin was in an accident

The couple then confirmed their engagement in 2021 after Goodwin suggested within minutes that they meet the actress in Vienna for the first time.

But just weeks after Jonathan proposed, he was involved in the accident in which he was crushed by two burning cars.

Speaking about the horrific time, Amanda said she “didn’t think about the stunt” initially and shared how she got the news.

Speaking to the Times, she said: “[The stunt] was dangerous, but I knew Jonathan was a perfectionist, so I didn’t give it much thought.

Tragic: Jonathan was left paralyzed for life in a tragic accident in October 2021 after performing a stunt attempting to escape from a straitjacket while hanging upside down 30 feet in the air

Tragic: Jonathan was left paralyzed for life in a tragic accident in October 2021 after performing a stunt attempting to escape from a straitjacket while hanging upside down 30 feet in the air

“When I woke up the next morning, there was a voicemail from his stunt coordinator: ‘Jonathan was in an accident. That’s not good news.”

“Then it all became a crazy whirlwind; to find out what happened, to fly his family there.’

She then explained the severity of the accident, sharing that he fell and lost a kidney, fractured both shoulder blades, shattered both legs, fractured his spine and severed his spinal cord.

Amanda continued, “We ended up talking on the phone. He called to say he had surgery and there was a good chance he wouldn’t make it.

“He told me he loved me and I really thought that was the last time I heard his voice.”

Scary: Speaking about the horrific time, Amanda said she

Scary: Speaking about the horrific time, Amanda said she “didn’t think about the stunt” initially and shared how she got the news

Proud: The actress gushed that she's so in love with her

Proud: The actress gushed that she’s so in love with her “independent and strong” husband-to-be that she “forgets he’s in a wheelchair”.

Last year, the couple announced they wanted to get married in 2022, but remained shy about the details.

Now Jonathan, who shares his life lessons and his gratitude for Amanda, has confirmed the couple will be wed in June.

He told the Times: “I wouldn’t recommend almost dying, but it teaches you a lot about life.

“I look at Amanda and pinch myself. This gorgeous, wonderful, funny woman likes me and we are getting married in June.

“Part of me wants to parachute or zipline to church, but Amanda has made it absolutely clear that this will be a traditional wedding. And if I come anywhere close to my previous career, I suspect it will be one of the shortest marriages ever!’

Honest: Amanda announced in May 2022 that her partner now uses a wheelchair after sustaining a series of serious injuries during rehearsals for America's Got Talent: Extreme

Honest: Amanda announced in May 2022 that her partner now uses a wheelchair after sustaining a series of serious injuries during rehearsals for America’s Got Talent: Extreme

The pair’s paths first crossed on Twitter in 2012 while they were both involved in other relationships — she with actor Martin Freeman, best known for his work on sitcom The Office and Peter Jackson’s blockbuster The Hobbit, and he with his now ex-wife Katy.

Mutual respect for each other’s work led to an initial friendship, but it would be another nine years – by then both single – before they fell in love.

By then, Goodwin was living in Las Vegas, but a seven-hour phone call with Abbington convinced him to relocate to his native UK — despite never having met the actress in person.

The couple eventually met in person while Abbington was filming on location in the Austrian capital of Vienna, with the actress admitting that before they first met she repeatedly texted him “like a giddy schoolgirl.”

Shortly after their engagement, Jonathan was left paralyzed by the stunt that went horribly wrong.

Amanda later explained that the timing was misjudged and the cars were released too soon, resulting in him being crushed between them as they caught fire.

Now, over a year after his accident, Amanda has revealed that her fiancé Jonathan is “going from strength to strength”.

She gushed that she loves her “independent and strong” future husband so much that she “forgets he’s in a wheelchair.”

Speaking Tuesday in Lorraine to promote her new comedy series The Family Pile, Amanda revealed that she and Jonathan are still planning to get married this summer.

She gushed about her boyfriend, adding: “He’s amazing, he makes me smile. I love him more than anything, he keeps getting stronger.

Old times: The couple originally developed a friendship in 2012 while Abbington was in a relationship with actor Martin Freeman before getting romantic after their split

Old times: The couple originally developed a friendship in 2012 while Abbington was in a relationship with actor Martin Freeman before getting romantic after their split

“I forget he’s in a wheelchair, he’s independent and strong. He really is my hero, I don’t know what I would do without him. He is so supportive and beautiful. Wedding in summer, it happens.’

Previously, the couple announced that they wanted to get married in 2022 but remained coy about the details.

Appearing on Lorraine in May, Jonathan said: “The wedding is later this year, it’s beautiful, we were really looking forward to it beforehand. It’s one of those things where when someone dies, everyone says what a wonderful person they were, but they never get to hear it.

Amanda announced in May 2022 that her partner is now using a wheelchair after suffering a series of serious injuries during rehearsals for America’s Got Talent: Extreme, which has since been cancelled. He was hospitalized with his injuries for four months before being released in February.

Close: A mutual respect for each other's work sparked an initial friendship, but it would be another nine years - by then both were single - before they fell in love

Close: A mutual respect for each other’s work sparked an initial friendship, but it would be another nine years – by then both were single – before they fell in love

In May last year, Jonathan shared a post on Instagram saying his dog, who finally got to see him for the first time in six months, had gotten used to the fact that he had “cool new wheels”.

He wrote: “Six months ago I went to a rehearsal for something and had this little hairy monkey waiting patiently for me… he only saw his dad again a few weeks ago and when he finally did his dad had new wheels.”

“Much has changed in the last six months but love is a constant and I am loved dearly. I look forward to my next chapter and to being a role model.”

During the couple’s first TV appearance together that same month, Jonathan explained that he gave Amanda a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card after his accident, but the star insisted she would always stand by her new fiancé’s side.

Supportive: During the couple's first TV appearance together that same month, Jonathan explained that he gave Amanda a 'Get Out of Jail Free' card after his accident

Supportive: During the couple’s first TV appearance together that same month, Jonathan explained that he gave Amanda a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card after his accident

When Amanda got emotional, Jonathan said, “I said you have a ticket to get out of jail if you want to go away, I understand, and she told me not to be so stupid.”

Elsewhere in the interview, a tearful Amanda, who proposed to Jonathan just weeks before the accident, went on to say that as a couple they were “closer and closer” than ever as she gushed that Jonathan was her “inspiration.” .

“We’re closer and tighter than ever and we’ve got this unspoken thing, we said the other day that we’re the people who will say yes to things, life is too short, be in the moment and grab it with both hands, because you put it on “I don’t know what’s around the corner,” she said.

“He’s a total inspiration to me. He’s an idiot, I’m a Wally so it’s fine. And all my friends and family love him, he’s very adorable.’

Almost died twice: Jonathan, who has now retired from escapology, documented his four months in hospital recovering from injuries including burns and broken legs

Almost died twice: Jonathan, who has now retired from escapology, documented his four months in hospital recovering from injuries including burns and broken legs