An extra who was left brain damaged after a stunt on the set of 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon' went wrong, has been awarded $18.5 million. Actress Gabriella Cedillo was one of 80 extras brought in to appear in the background of an action sequence shooting in Chicago, but she was hit by a snapped cable which had been pulling a vehicle, reports NBC Chicago.

Lawyers working for Ms Cedillo argued that a "completely inadequate superficial weld had been applied in a failed effort to secure the bracket to the [stunt] car", and it has been revealed that the same stunt had failed the previous day, resulting in abandonment of the scene. Cedillo's lawyer Todd Smith said, "They were actually announcing on the radio, that, watch out for the debris. The people were driving around, apparently, trying to dodge debris as they drove along". The extra was airlifted to a nearby hospital following the accident, where she underwent emergency brain surgery. Smith claimed she had lost "about a third of the top of her head".

'Transformers: Dark of the Moon' went on to take more than $1 billion at the global box-office. Speaking after the settlement was awarded, a spokesperson for Paramount told Deadline.com, "We are pleased that the Cedillo family has agreed to move forward with the settlement. This was a tragic accident and our thoughts and prayers remain with Gabriella".