A British stuntwoman who features in the forthcoming Star Wars film is “fighting for her life” after crashing during a high-speed motorbike chase.

Olivia Jackson suffered severe head injuries and a punctured lung after she collided with a metal camera arm on the set of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday.

The 32-year-old, from Buckinghamshire, was not believed to have been wearing any protective gear when the incident took place, and has reportedly been placed in a medically induced coma. An investigation has been launched into the crash.

Jackson’s husband, David Grant, also a stuntman, has flown to South Africa to be by her side. In a Facebook post, Grant thanked well-wishers for their support. “She has been making steady progress and your thoughts and good vibes are all working, so please keep them up,” he said.

“She’s my inspiration and my world and one tough little motherfucker. She’s fighting hard and the team of people working on Olive have been amazing. I whisper to her everyday telling her about the support she’s getting worldwide.”

A source who was on the film set at the time of the crash told the Sun Jackson had “no chance” when the camera failed to move out of her way during the scene.

“It was a very dangerous stunt. She was riding a motorbike in a straight line but due to the scene she had no protective gear or helmet,” the source said. “There is a metal arm which carries the camera along. But it malfunctioned and didn’t lift up. It was totally out of her control.”

As well as performing stunts in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, South-African born Jackson also played Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Charlize Theron’s stunt doubles in Mad Max: Fury Road, and Gwyneth Paltrow’s in Mortdecai.

AAP