Taiwan Production Team Slammed For Cold Response After Stunt Double Seriously Injured After Falling From Height

On-set safety has come under the spotlight following a filming accident on the set of Taiwan’s Formosa Television (FTV) prime-time drama The Mother of the Tofu Family which left a stunt double critically injured.

The incident occurred on January 20, when 37-year-old stunt performer Su Deyang was performing a high-risk jump from a platform roughly three storeys high.

He fell outside the protective mats, landing head-first, and suffered intracranial bleeding and facial fractures. He was at one point in critical condition.

His family and a labour union have accused the production team of inadequate safety measures, failure to provide proper insurance coverage, and an indifferent response following the accident, allegations the production has since strongly denied.

The drama’s production company Wan Hsing Media subsequently issued a statement defending its handling of the scene and the post-accident response.

The company said the sequence had been assessed as high risk and that a professional martial arts coordinator had been engaged.

According to the production, four safety mats were requested by the coordinator, with an additional layer added as a precaution, and six crew members were positioned on site to assist.

The production added that filming only proceeded after Deyang “personally inspected the site and deemed it safe before jumping.”

It also rejected claims that no insurance had been arranged, asserting that performers were covered under employer liability accident insurance.

Addressing accusations of neglect, the production released a detailed timeline, stating that staff visited Deyang at the hospital immediately after the accident, paid medical costs, and accompanied him through his discharge process.

While visits were not frequent due to intensive care unit restrictions and the need to coordinate with the family, the company denied claims that it failed to provide support.

The production added that when Deyang was discharged from hospital on Feb 6, it “paid all related medical expenses, and presented a discharge condolence payment as a gesture of goodwill.”

FTV also expressed deep regret over the accident, stating that internal reviews have been conducted and filming safety procedures will undergo a comprehensive review to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

According to Deyang’s fiancée Rena, although he is currently able to walk on his own, he continues to experience dizziness, anxiety, and intense unease whenever he opens his eyes.  

She said he would require regular CT scans to monitor his condition, and surgery may still be necessary if his recovery does not progress as expected.

Rena added that the family believes it will take a long time before his life can return to normal.

Deyang, who has a background in theatre, has appeared in numerous commercials and is a professional stunt performer.

He and Rena had planned to marry this year, but their lives were upended overnight following the accident.