US actor Harrison Ford. (AFP/Loic Venance)
LONDON: Veteran actor Harrison Ford was airlifted to hospital on Thursday after suffering an ankle injury on the set of the new "Star Wars" movie in Britain.
The 71-year-old was hurt when a garage door fell and hit him at Pinewood Studios outside London, according to emergency services.
"We were called just after 5:00pm to reports of a 71-year-old man being injured in an incident believed to involve a garage door," said a spokesman for Thames Valley police.
"The man was airlifted to John Radcliffe Hospital with injuries which are not believed to be life threatening."
A Disney studios spokeswoman confirmed that Ford sustained the injury during filming on the set of "Star Wars: Episode VII."
"He was taken to a local hospital and is receiving care. Shooting will continue as planned while he recuperates," she added in a statement.
Filming began in May on the new episode of the iconic franchise, directed by blockbuster filmmaker J J Abrams.
Original cast members Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker star in the new film, due for worldwide release on December 18, 2015.
Ford is back as smuggler Han Solo, 62-year-old Hamill will return as Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker and Fisher, 57, reprises the role of Princess Leia.
Disney recruited "Star Trek" and "Mission: Impossible III" director Abrams in a bid to re-create the magic from the original trilogy: "Star Wars," "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi."
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