Sources tell Britain's Sunday Times the 63 year old, who played the original Luke Skywalker in the sci-fi franchise, was shooting on a treacherous ridge on the remote island of Skellig Michael when he lost his footing and slipped.

Luckily, Hamill was saved by a quick-thinking tour guide from the Irish Office of Public Works, who leaped into action and pulled him back to safety.

Others haven't been so lucky - two visitors died after falling from Skellig Michael in 2009.

Hamill has yet to comment on the incident, which reportedly took place just weeks after co-star Harrison Ford broke his leg in an accident onset in London.

Director J.J. Abrams also recently revealed he was secretly diagnosed with a fractured back bone after attempting to rescue Ford following his mishap on his character Han Solo's spacecraft, the Millennium Falcon.

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens opens in December (15).