We've gotten an update from the set of The Lone Ranger in New Mexico, where star Johnny Depp, who plays Tonto in the film, took a violent tumble off his stunt horse during one of the Western's more intense moments of action.

According to the actor himself, it was his horse, Scout, that actually saved his life, allowing Depp to walk away from the accident bruised and battered, but not seriously injured.

"I'm lucky to be here. I've done a number of films on horseback and I've taken a couple of spills but this was a violent one. I had a good relationship with the horse, which was named Scout, and when I look at the tape I can see that Scout saved my life. I went down badly and I was dragged for 25 yards and in the end the horse just jumped over me and clipped me with his back legs.".quote

Shooting resumed shortly after the incident. Johnny Depp can next be seen on screen this Friday in the horror comedy Dark Shadows.