Hollywood actor Jeremy Renner has shared harrowing details of his near-fatal snowplow accident in his new memoir, My Next Breath, released on April 29, 2025. The incident, which occurred on January 1, 2023, left Renner believing he temporarily died after being crushed by a 14,000-pound snowplow while trying to save his nephew, Alex Fries, from danger.
On that fateful day, Renner was outside his home near the Sierra Nevada Mountains when he attempted to assist his nephew, whose pickup truck had become stuck in the snow. In a moment of selflessness, Renner exited his snowplow to check on Fries. Unfortunately, the vehicle began moving, and Renner was struck, becoming trapped under its tread.
After the accident, Renner was hospitalized for over two weeks, suffering from blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries, including a total of 38 broken bones, a collapsed lung, and a pierced liver. The actor described the chaos of the incident vividly in his memoir, stating, "Six f*****g wheels, 76 steel blades, 14,000 pounds of machine, all ranged against one human body. I hear all the bones crack… skull, jaw, cheekbones, molars: fibula, tibia, lungs, eye sockets, cranium, pelvis, ulna, legs, arms, skin, crack, snap, crack, squeeze."
Renner's near-death experience was profound. He recounted lying on the ice for over 30 minutes, during which time his heart rate dropped to a dangerously low 18 beats per minute, leading him to believe he was "basically dead." In his own words, he reflected on the experience, saying, "I know I died – in fact, I’m sure of it." He described feeling a "constantly connected, beautiful and fantastic energy" and noted, "In death there was no time, no time at all, yet it was also all time and forever."
In a poignant moment, Renner recalled, "As I lay on the ice, my heart rate slowed, and right there, on that New Year’s Day, unknown to my daughter, my sisters, my friends, my father, my mother, I just got tired. After about 30 minutes on the ice, of breathing manually for so long, an effort akin to doing 10 or 20 push-ups per minute… that’s when I died. I died, right there on the driveway to my house."
Despite the traumatic experience, Renner has emerged with a new perspective on life. During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he expressed a newfound positivity, stating, "There are so many great gifts of being tested to your limits, right? Your physical limits, your spiritual limits, emotional limits. I won’t have a bad day for the rest of my life. It’s impossible. There’s that gift."
Writing the memoir was a significant step for Renner, who described the process as "healing" for both himself and his family. He explained, "It was quite the struggle... To relive it, to recount it, to own it in a different way word by word was quite healing for me." The book also provided closure for his family, particularly for his nephew, who witnessed the traumatic event unfold.
Renner's accident not only tested his physical resilience but also highlighted the fragility of life. He admitted to being a "terrible patient" during his recovery, humorously recalling his attempts to escape the hospital where he was treated. "I tried to break out many times. They handcuffed me to the bed because I kept trying to break out," he shared with Fallon, laughing at his own antics.
He described his frustrations during recovery, saying, "Mind you, these are the slowest breakouts ever. I never made it to the front door! I had my ass out. I had nine machines dragging at an epidural — all these machines, they’re all going off. It’s like, everyone knew what I was doing."
As he continues to recover, Renner is also returning to work, starring in projects such as Mayor of Kingstown. However, he has not been confirmed to reprise his role in the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday, leaving fans wondering about his future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Renner's journey following the accident has been one of resilience and hope. He has expressed gratitude for the support he has received and emphasizes the importance of perspective in navigating life’s challenges. "You don’t have to get run over by a snowcat to do that — that’s why I started to write the book," he remarked, underscoring that everyone has the capacity to find strength in adversity.
In sharing his story, Renner aims to inspire others to appreciate life and its fleeting moments. His memoir serves as a testament to the power of the human spirit and the potential for recovery, even after the most harrowing experiences. As he continues to heal, Renner remains a beacon of positivity, reminding us all that life is precious.
