Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Jeremy Renner reflects on horrific snowplow accident one year after nearly dying

Marvel actor broke 30 bones and required multiple surgeries after incident outside his Nevada home

Louis Chilton
Tuesday 02 January 2024 07:42 GMT
Comments
Jeremy Renner shares 911 call made during horrific snowplow accident

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Avengers star Jeremy Renner has reflected on the serious snowplough accident that nearly claimed his life a year ago.

On 1 January 2023, Renner was crushed by the seven-tonne vehicle outside his home in rural Nevada. He broke over 30 bones, and required multiple surgeries after being rushed to hospital.

Renner, who is best known for playing Clint “Hawkeye” Barton in the popular Marvel film franchise, reflected on the incident to mark the one-year anniversary.

Speaking to CNN, he said: “I’m just so blessed I had so many things to live for, I have a giant family, a 10-year-old daughter.”

“I would have disappointed and really messed up a lot of people’s lives if I would have passed. I’m also pretty stubborn, there’s a lot for me to fight for and recovery was just a one-way road in my mind and my recovery.”

The accident occured when Renner used the plough to rescue his nephew, who had got stuck in a car during a bad storm.

After successfully towing his nephew’s vehicle, Renner exited the plough, which then rolled towards him, crushing him.

Jeremy Renner pictured in September 2023
Jeremy Renner pictured in September 2023 (Getty Images for Level 8)

Renner told CNN that his “poor nephew” had had to react in the aftermath, with the actor being airlifted to hospital in Reno, Nevada.

“I gave him you know, images that he can never unsee,” Renner continued, adding that he knew “my healing would be healing for him”.

Apple TV+ logo

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free
Apple TV+ logo

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

“I had never thought about my own physical ailments or my own pain or my own anguish - so the one-way road to recovery was like a mental attitude,” he added. “And that attitude was always to get better. And there’s no option other than that.”

Renner also shared a post on Instagram paying tribute to his “sweet nephew who helped save” his life.

The actor, who is also known for his Oscar-nominated turn in the war drama The Hurt Locker, has spent much of the year recovering from his injuries.

Renner in ‘Hawkeye’
Renner in ‘Hawkeye’ (Disney Plus)

However, he explained to CNN that he will shortly be returning to acting work, filming the third season of the Paramount+ series The Mayor Of Kingstown .

“I think I’m strong enough, he said. “We’ll see. I mean, I literally go back in a week. But I’ll be doing my best, trying my hardest.”

In October, Renner, who is also a musician, announced that he would be releasing a new album inspired by his brush with death.

Postin on Instagram , the actor teased a new collection of songs titled Love and Titanium, explaining that creating the tracks had been a “cathartic” way of dealing with his near-death experience.

“A collection of music we wrote about different milestones in my journey of recovery since Jan 1st this year,” he wrote. “Love and Titanium has been painful, deeply healing, and ultimately cathartic for me to create. I hope I get the courage to share with you all.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in