‘My grief will follow me to my grave’: Mum of Ninja Warrior stuntman shot on video set shares heartbreak

The mother of a stuntman who was accidentally shot on the set of a professional film shoot for the band Bliss N Eso has revealed the emotional toll of losing her son.

The heartbroken mother of a stuntman and former Ninja Warrior contestant accidentally shot and killed on the set of a music video shoot has revealed how her son’s death turned her world into one of complete darkness.

Gold Coast man Johann Ofner died from fatal gunshot injuries when a shotgun loaded with blank cartridges was fired on the set of the music video shoot at Brisbane’s Brooklyn Standard bar in 2017.

Johann Ofner, affectionately known as ‘Yogi’, died on the set of a Bliss N Eso music video shoot in 2017 after being shot by a gun loaded with blank cartridges.

On Monday, a coronial inquest into the 28-year-old’s death was told firing tests were not carried out on the gun in question.

A statement from Maria Ofner, Johann’s mother, was read to the court as proceedings closed that afternoon.

Ms Ofner described her eldest son as the kind of man “who could light up a room” with his smile.

In her statement she described how her world went from one filled with love and laughter to one of darkness.

Ms Ofner revealed how she had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

“My grief will follow me to my grave,” her statement read.

Stunt co-ordinator Judd Wild, who was responsible for the general stunt safety of performers on the set at the time, told the court he provided first aid when he realised Mr Ofner had been fatally injured.

On the day, he was listed as a safety co-ordinator in addition to his role with the stunt crew but the call sheet was changed at his insistence.

Four weapons, including two blank firing pistols and a replica submachine gun, were selected by the director and stunt co-ordinator to be used on the day.

A sawn-off shotgun loaded with blank cartridges – the weapon that killed Mr Ofner – was also used.

The crime scene at Brooklyn Standard in Eagle Lane following the fatal shooting of Johann Ofner during the filming of a music video. Picture: Tara Croser

The court was told no test fire was carried out on the shotgun.

Mr Wild said he did not know if any projectile had been loaded into the weapon and other stunt actors were asked to aim the weapons away from others.

“Obviously not every weapon is test-fired, it would take too long... (but) it depends on the production,” he said.

He told the inquest he would have “stopped” everything if he knew the weapon was loaded.

Earlier, Detective Sergeant John Fleming gave evidence that offers to test fire the shotgun were rejected.

Mr Ofner was fitted with protective gear and a special vest to “jerk him back” when the weapons were fired on set.

Sergeant Fleming said stuntman Shinji Ikefuji fired the gun towards Mr Ofner during the filming.

“Everyone was happy with the shoot until they found out Mr Ofner had been shot,” he said.

“The shortened shotgun … should not have been brought onto the set, it was a contravention of weapon regulations.”

Johann Ofner competing on Ninja Warrior in 2017.

The inquest into Mr Ofner’s death will examine the adequacy of training and safety briefings provided to staff on the production set as well as the regulations surrounding the use of firearms by the entertainment, film and production industry.

The Bliss N Eso shoot ran for three days in the Gold Coast and Brisbane, with the tragic event unfolding on the last day at the Brooklyn Standard bar.

Sergeant Fleming said there was confusion on the set over who was in charge of safety as Mr Wild appeared to perform dual roles as the project’s safety and stunt co-ordinator.

Bliss N Esso band members Jonathan Notley, Max MacKinnon and Tarik Ejjamai. Picture: Jono Searl

He said armourer Warren Ritchie was investigated over potential offences but prosecution never began, as Mr Ritchie had recently died.

Suzanne Dent, a hair and make-up artist on the set, said she was told there was “going to be guns” on the set of the film shoot.

She told the court the crew were given a short safety briefing by Mr Wild on the day.

Ms Dent said she was required to dress Mr Ofner in the protective gear that was provided on the set.

Adam Corless, a firearms store employee who supplied Mr Ritchie with the blank cartridges, said he made them as a “courtesy” but was not given the full story of how they would be used.

“If he said he was going to point (the firearm) at a person, I would have said no,” he said.

“(Mr Ritchie) told me it was to be used in a shotgun which would be shot into the sky.”