Stuntman John Bernecker Dies After Fall on Set

Production on the eighth season of The Walking Dead has been temporarily halted by AMC after a stuntman suffered an injury on the set in Atlanta on Wednesday, E! News has confirmed. The stuntman, John Bernecker, passed away from injuries sustained in a fall. 

The cause of death is blunt force trauma and it has been ruled an accidental death, according to Coweta County Medical Examiner's Office.

"We are saddened to report that John Bernecker, a talented stuntman for The Walking 

Dead and numerous other television shows and films, suffered serious injuries from a tragic accident on set," an AMC spokesperson said in a statement provided to E! News after the fall was reported. "He was immediately transported to an Atlanta hospital and we have temporarily shut down production. We are keeping John and his family in our thoughts and prayers."

"Deep sorrow today, and for every tomorrow," star Jeffrey Dean Morgan wrote on Twitterfollowing news of John's passing. "Love, respect and condolences to John's family, and friends. He will be forever missed."

On Thursday, star Lauren Cohan tweeted, "Dear Walking Dead Family, please keep John Bernecker, our stuntman and his family in your prayers today."