SUBMITTED BY Timbo

November 18, 2003 — Did Tom Cruise nearly get his head cut off during the shooting of "The Last Samurai"?

One of Cruise's Japanese co-stars -- master swordsman Hiroyuki Sanada -- has confirmed that the rumours are true.

Sanada, who also trained Cruise in samurai martial arts for the film, says now that he was the one who nearly sliced into Cruise's neck with a heavy sword during a stunt for the so-called Fog Battle in the epic film.

"I think so, yeah!" Sanada says when The Sun asks him if he saved Cruise's life by stopping the sword one inch from the superstar's neck. "You know, I was so scared. If I hit him, I cannot live any more!"

The incident occurred in a studio set-up with Cruise riding a mechanical horse that was supposed to jerk him backwards at the precise moment that Sanada's sword swung through the air where Cruise's head had just been. On the second or third take -- Sanada is uncertain which -- the horse jammed, and the swing of the sword was directly aimed at Cruise.

Read the full account at the link below.