It’s been a very difficult year for Hollywood star Jeremy Renner, who suffered serious injuries after a snow plow accident on January 1.
But over the past few months, the actor has been making a slow and steady recovery — and recently opened up about his experiences in his first interview since the accident.
Jeremy Renner – snow plow accident
Renner is best known for playing Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, along with Oscar-nominated performances in The Town and The Hurt Locker.
But his thriving Hollywood career took a drastic and life-threatening turn on January 1 when the 52-year-old actor was involved in an accident in which he was run over by a 14,330-pound snowcat at his home in Washoe County, Nevada.
According to reports, Renner was removing snow from his nephew’s driveway. When the vehicle began to slide down the street towards his nephew, Renner intervened to save him but was dragged under the track.
Renner suffered blunt chest trauma, and later revealed he broke over 30 bones in his body. After being airlifted to the hospital, Renner was said to be in critical but stable condition and was in the intensive care unit.
The actor has been sharing updates about his progress, thanking fans for their support. He has undergone surgeries and physical therapy, and on January 17 said he would be leaving the hospital to recover at home.
While friends initially worried that Renner would never be able to walk again, he shared an inspiring update recently, revealing that he has taken his first steps since the accident via an anti-gravity treadmill.
New interview
As Renner continues to recover, he is beginning to take his first steps back into public life. His upcoming Disney+ show Rennervations premieres next month, and Renner is planning to attend the world premiere in Los Angeles on April 11, his first public appearance since the accident.
Renner also sat down for a new interview with ABC News correspondent Diane Sawyer, which will air as a special titled Jeremy Renner: The Diane Sawyer Interview – A Story of Terror, Survival and Triumph.
The special airs on April 6, but a preview shows the actor opening up about the traumatic events, revealing he remembers “all of” the pain during the accident.
“I was awake through every moment,” Renner tells Sawyer.
“What’s my body going to look like?” Renner recalls thinking. “Am I just going to be a spine and a brain like a science experiment?”
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He also goes into detail of the extent of his injuries, including “eight ribs broken in 14 places,” and suffered a collapsed lung. He also broke his right knee, both ankles, right shoulder, eye socket, jaw and mandible.
Through it all, Renner fought for survival: “I chose to survive, you’re not gonna kill me, no way.”
The special also includes audio from the 911 call, and an interview with Renner’s nephew. “I see him in a pool of blood coming from his head,” he says in the interview. “I ran up to him. I didn’t think he was alive.”
On his decision to put his own life at risk to save his nephew, Renner has no regrets: “I would do it again,” he told Diane Sawyer.
Renner also gets emotional, recalling how he said “I’m sorry” to his family after the accident. But overall, Renner has a positive attitude about his situation and is happy just to be alive.
“I’ve lost a lot of flesh and bone in this experience, but I’ve been refilled and refueled with love and titanium,” Renner says, calling himself a “lucky man.”
Jeremy Renner has been through a lot since his horrific accident, but we’re glad he is starting to get back on his feet — it’s great to have him back and we’re continuing to wish him a full recovery!
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