Man who died on Lone Ranger set was Bruckheimer veteran

The man who died on the set of the new 'Lone Ranger' film last week was a long-time collaborator of producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Johnny Depp, it has emerged.

48-year-old Mike Bridger was a welder and a water safety advisor with 20 years in the film business.

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He had worked with Bruckheimer, who is producing 'The Lone Ranger', on the first 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie, and was then hired for all the subsequent films. He reportedly also became close to Depp while on set.

Bridger died while working in a large water tank on the set of 'The Lone Ranger'. It's believed that he suffered a cardiac arrest.

He was then flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

A spokesperson for producers Walt Disney said: “We regretfully confirm that a Lone Ranger crew member has passed away after being taken to a local hospital. Our full support is behind the investigation into the circumstances of this terrible event.”

Investigators are treating the case as a 'natural death'.