Scots Hollywood stuntman faces losing leg after freak accident at home

Get the latest Daily Record breaking news on WhatsApp

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info

Join us on WhatsApp

A Scots Hollywood stuntman has launched a desperate campaign to save his leg - and possibly his life - after a freak 15ft fall at his home spiralled into a critical medical emergency.

Charlie “Chick” Allan, 61, is racing against time to raise funds for a potentially life-saving procedure abroad after complete arterial thrombosis in his left knee left NHS surgeons unable to help.

The Denny-based actor, best known for his role in Gladiator as the German Leader who held a Roman soldier’s severed head at the start of the film, suffered the injury on August 8, when he fell into a 15-foot ditch while doing DIY work to his home gym.

“I landed heavily on my left leg when it folded under me. It sounded like it tore, and my knee swelled up like a balloon,” Chick said. “I’m not a light fella, so I went down hard. I had to claw my way out by grabbing clumps of grass. It was very freaky.”

Despite initial efforts to manage the injury, Charlie’s condition worsened. Blood clots developed, cutting off circulation to his lower leg. This meant that he now risked losing his leg or his life if things worsened.

After spending three days in Hairmyres Hospital awaiting a vein bypass, he was told it was not possible because of complications from a previous blunt-force trauma injury in his right leg. As a result, he was prescribed Apixaban, Aspirin and Anticoagulants and was told there was no other procedure available to him under the NHS.

His wife, Chara, then began looking for alternatives and came across surgeons in the US and Germany who could perform an Endovascular Thrombectomy, which in Charlie’s case would have a 90 percent chance of success. However, he needs £25,000 for it.

He explained: “The surgeons told me that I must get the procedure done before Christmas. The longer it’s left, the harder it is to fix. There’s also a chance that if anything breaks free, it could affect my heart or lungs and be fatal. It’s a scary thought, and one I’m trying not to think about.”

A GoFundMe page has been launched to pay for the surgery and to their amazement has already raised just under £8,000, a sum that Charlie finds humbling.

“My wife looked at how much had been raised on the night that it went live, and we were astonished,” he said. “It’s phenomenal. Any help is massive because we can’t afford this sort of money.”

Charlie has a 16-month-old son, Bran, who he is determined to be there for, he said: “My son is now up and running, and I can’t catch him if he runs off. It’s quite worrying because I want him to grow up with me kicking a ball about with him. Hopefully with two legs rather than one.”

His wife, Chara Gallos-Allan, added: “We have often kept our struggles close to our hearts, but tonight we feel it’s time to lean on the kindness and generosity of our friends.”

Despite his extensive connections in the film industry, Chick has hesitated to ask for financial help from friends. Among those he counts as close companions is Hollywood star Russell Crowe, who has supported Charlie and his work as CEO at The Clanranald Trust for Scotland on numerous occasions.

“Russell has helped me out more than most,” he said. “He donated a haka band to my wedding and the opening event at Duncarron. He’s flown me out for film projects, like his directing debut with The Water Diviner, just because I’m his mate. He’s an amazing guy and always very generous.

“I never thought of asking anyone for help. It’s not for pride; it’s about not putting that much of a burden on anybody else.”

His injury comes after decades of work in TV and film, where he made a name for himself as a stuntman and fight coordinator. His career spans from the mid-1990s with the BBC’s Ivanhoe to credits in blockbusters like Thor: The Dark World, Transformers 5, and King Arthur.

In 2017, Charlie played a pivotal role in the Netflix hit Outlaw King, training Chris Pine and hundreds of extras for the film’s epic battle scenes. Due to the fall, however, Alan has had to stop working and even pulled out of a job in an upcoming DC Comics film.

The stuntman's ties to Scotland’s history run deeper than his film work. He is the founder of the Clanranald Trust for Scotland, a charity dedicated to promoting Scottish culture and history through education and living history experiences, through things like the the Duncarron Medieval Village.

Though side-lined by his injury, Charlie remains focused on the future. He said: “This procedure is my last hope. If I can make it happen, I can get back to doing what I love - not just in my career, but with my family.”

To donate, visit their GoFundMe page.

Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!

Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.

You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.

All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!

If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.

To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.