Amanda Abbington has opened up on the ‘crazy whirlwind’ of events after finding out her fiancé Jonathan Goodwin had been in an accident.
Jonathan was paralyzed for life in a tragic accident in October 2021, following a stunt where he attempted to escape from a straight jacket while being hung upside down 30 feet in the air.
The actress, 48, started dating the America’s Got Talent star, 42, after her split from Martin Freeman.
Difficult: Amanda Abbington has opened up on the ‘crazy whirlwind’ of events after finding out her fiancé Jonathan Goodwin had been in an accident
The couple then confirmed their engagement in 2021 after Goodwin proposed within minutes of meeting the actress for the first time in Vienna.
But just weeks after Jonathan proposed, he was in the accident which saw him crushed by two cars on fire.
Now, speaking about the horrific time, Amanda said she initially ‘didn’t think about the stunt’ and shared how she received the news.
Speaking to The Times, she said: ‘[The stunt] was dangerous, but I knew Jonathan was a perfectionist so I didn’t think any more about it.
Tragic: Jonathan was paralyzed for life in a tragic accident in October 2021 , following a stunt where he attempted to escape from a straight jacket while being hung upside down 30 feet in the air
‘When I woke up the following morning there was a voicemail from his stunt co-ordinator: “Jonathan’s had an accident. It’s not great news.”
‘Then it all became a crazy whirlwind; finding out what had happened, flying his family out there.’
She then explained the severity of the accident, sharing he had fell and lost a kidney, broken both shoulder blades, shattered both legs, broke his spine and severed his spinal cord.
Amanda continued: ‘We did eventually speak on the phone. He called to say he was having an operation and there was a strong chance he might not make it.
‘He told me that he loved me and I honestly thought that was the last time I’d hear his voice.’
Scary: Now, speaking about the horrific time, Amanda said she initially ‘didn’t think about the stunt’ and shared how she received the news
Proud: The actress gushed that she is so in love with her ‘independent and strong’ husband-to-be that she ‘forgets he’s in a wheelchair’
Last year the couple had revealed that they planned to get married in 2022, but remained coy on the details.
Now, Jonathan sharing his lessons on life and his gratitude for Amanda has confirmed the pair will be marrying in June.
He explained to The Times: ‘I wouldn’t recommend nearly dying, but it teaches you a lot about living.
‘I look at Amanda and pinch myself. This gorgeous, wonderful, funny woman likes me and we’re getting married in June.
‘There is a bit of me that wants to arrive at church via parachute or zip wire, but Amanda has made it crystal clear that this will be a traditional wedding. And if I go anywhere near my former career, I suspect that it will be one of the shortest marriages on record!’
Honest: Amanda revealed in May 2022 that her partner now uses a wheelchair after he sustained a number of serious injuries during rehearsals for America’s Got Talent: Extreme
The couple first crossed paths 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 blockbuster The Hobbit, and he with now ex-wife Katy.
A mutual respect for one another’s work sparked an initial friendship, but it would be a further nine years – by which time they were both single – before they fell for one another.
By then Goodwin was based in Las Vegas, but a seven-hour phone-call with Abbington convinced him to relocate to his native Britain – despite having never met the actress face-to-face.
The couple eventually met in person while Abbington was filming on location in Austrian capital Vienna, with the actress admitting their first meeting was preceded by her repeatedly messaging him ‘like a giddy school-girl.’
Shortly after their engagement Jonathan was left paralyzed from the stunt that went horribly wrong.
Amanda later explained that the timing was misjudged and the cars were released too early, causing him to be crushed between them as they caught on fire.
Now, over a year since his accident, Amanda has revealed that her fiancé Jonathan is ‘going from strength to strength’.
She gushed that she is so in love with her ‘independent and strong’ husband-to-be that she ‘forgets he’s in a wheelchair.’
Speaking on Tuesday’s Lorraine to promote her new comedy series The Family Pile, Amanda revealed that she and Jonathan are still planning to marry this summer.
Gushing about her beau she added: ‘He’s amazing, he makes me smile. I love him to bits, he’s going from strength to strength.
Old times: The couple originally developed a friendship in 2012, while Abbington was in a relationship with actor Martin Freeman, before becoming romantically involved following their split
‘I forget he’s in a wheelchair, he’s independent and strong. He’s genuinely my hero, I don’t know what I’d do without him. He’s so supportive and gorgeous. Wedding in summer it’s happening.’
Previously, the couple had revealed that they planned to get married in 2022, but remained coy on the details.
Appearing on Lorraine in May, Jonathan said: ‘The wedding is later this year, its lovely, we were very excited about it beforehand. It’s one of those things where if somebody dies, everyone says what a wonderful person he was but they never get to hear it.
Amanda revealed in May 2022 that her partner now uses a wheelchair after he sustained a number of serious injuries during rehearsals for America’s Got Talent: Extreme, which has since been axed. He was hospitalized for four months with his injuries, before his release in February.
Close: A mutual respect for one another’s work sparked an initial friendship, but it would be a further nine years – by which time they were both single – before they fell for one another
In May last year, Jonathan shared a post on Instagram, saying that his dog, who finally got to see him again for the first time in six months, was getting used to him having ‘cool, new, wheels.’
He penned: ‘Six months ago I went to rehearse for something and left this little hair monkey waiting patiently for me… he didn’t see his dad again until just a couple of weeks ago and when he finally did, his dad had new wheels .
‘A lot has changed in the last six months, but love is a constant and I’m very loved. Looking forward to my next chapter and being a role model.’
During the couple’s first joint TV appearance that same month, Jonathan explained that he had given Amanda a ‘Get Out of Jail Free card’ after his accident, but the star insisted that she would always remain by her new fiancé’s side.
Supportive: During the couple’s first joint TV appearance that same month, Jonathan explained that he had given Amanda a ‘Get Out of Jail Free card’ after his accident
As Amanda was seen becoming emotional, Jonathan said: ‘I said you have a get out of jail free card, if you want to walk away I understand and she told me not to be so stupid.’
Elsewhere in the interview, a tearful Amanda, who Jonathan proposed to just weeks before the accident, went on to say that they are ‘closer and tighter’ than ever as a couple as she gushed that Jonathan was her ‘inspiration.’
‘We are closer and tighter than ever and we have this unspoken thing, we said the other day that we are the people that are gonna say yes to stuff, life’s too short, be in the moment and grab it with both hands because you 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 loveable.’
Nearly died twice: Jonathan, who has now retired from escapology, documented his four months in hospital recovering from injuries including burns and broken legs
