Ofner’s big moment
Clip shows stuntman’s Ninja Warrior success
GOLD Coast stuntman Johann Ofner’s spectacular performance on Australia’s Ninja Warrior has finally been made public.
Ofner, 28, made the finals of Channel 9’s runaway hit physical challenge series in December last year before he was tragically killed filming a music video for Bliss N Eso in Brisbane in January.
Ofner’s girlfriend, model Kati Garnett, shared a montage of his run on the series in a heartbreaking public post on her Facebook page.
The show, a ratings hit for Channel 9 when it aired in July, did not include Ofner’s performance – a decision producers say they reached after consulting his family.
Instead, a short tribute to the aspiring actor aired during Ninja Warrior on July 16.
“Here it is everyone, we’ve been waiting so patiently to see our boy in action and absolutely kill Ninja Warrior,” Garnett wrote yesterday in a post on Facebook accompanying the video. “Thank you for the team for making this highlights video for us to share with everyone. Watch carefully, listen wisely and take in his greatness.”
The clip shows Ofner’s amazing upper body strength, determination and speed as he talks on the Australian Ninja Warrior course at Cockatoo Island, in Sydney.
“Next up is carpenter Johann Ofner. Johann is a mixed martial arts fighter who says Ninja Warrior is what I’m about,” Ninja Warrior co-presenter Ben Fordham says in the voiceover.
“He has great wing span and explosive pull-up power.”
The clip shows Ofner being embraced by Garnett, his mother Maria Ofner and his daughter Kyarna, 8, after he blitzes obstacles including the Ninja Wall.
Ofner was shown on the leaderboard during stage two of the show’s grand final, which failed to produce Australia’s first Ninja Warrior when none of the contestants were able to complete the second of three stages.