Leading Taiwan actor Kai Ko was seriously injured by a camera-carrying drone while filming Mandarin-language fantasy series “Agent From Above.” The show is set to play on Netflix.
The incident happened on Dec. 27, 2022, but was first reported recently by Taiwan’s United Daily News. It has subsequently been confirmed by the producers. They told Variety that production has resumed, but said that Ko (aka Ko Chen-tung) has not yet returned to work.
He was filming an action scene, with the drone captured close-ups of his face at close range. At one point, it was reported that the machine suddenly failed and crashed in front of him rapidly, and his face was cut by a blade. There was blood on the spot.
The crew claimed to have met the shooting safety standards and took precautions, including the use of a propeller blade protection cover, and there was no drone explosion or blade shooting. Unfortunately, for unknown reasons, the drone accidentally hit the cheekbone area of the actor’s face and caused injuries.
Ko’s manager told Taiwan media that the star had suffered “serious disfigurement” after he was hit in the face, close to his cheekbone. The manager said that he required 20-30 stitches.
Sources: United Daily News; Variety