With 38 Fractures, Pierced Liver, and Near-Death Experience, Jeremy Renner Reveals 'Focused Breathing' Helped Him Stay Alive

On January 1, 2023, Jeremy Renner faced a moment most couldn’t imagine. The ‘Hawk-Eye’ actor was crushed under a 14,000-pound snowcat, bones shattered, lungs collapsed, and his left eye bulging out of its socket. Paramedics doubted he’d survive. Yet, the actor clung to life by focusing on one simple act-breathing. In his new memoir, ‘My Next Breath’, he reveals how mindfulness and sheer willpower kept him alive during the 45-minute wait for help. His story isn’t just about survival; it’s a lesson in how mental resilience can defy even the grimmest odds.

The Accident That Changed Everything For Jeremy Renner

The ‘Avengers’ actor was clearing snow at his Nevada home when his PistenBully snow groomer rolled forward unexpectedly. He’d forgotten to engage the parking brake, a “tiny but monumental” mistake, as he calls it. The machine’s tank-like tracks dragged him under, crushing over 38 bones, piercing his liver, and collapsing a lung. “I heard the crunching sounds as the machine ground over me,” he wrote. “It was a horrifying soundtrack”.

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Breath by Breath: The Fight to Stay Alive

Lying in the snow, Jeremy Renner realised his body couldn’t breathe on its own. “I had to exhale with all my might just to suck air back in,” he told Jimmy Fallon. With a punctured lung, each breath felt like “being on fire, drowning, and struck by lightning all at once”. Yet, he focused solely on inhaling and exhaling, a technique he credits with keeping him conscious until paramedics arrived.

Renner’s instinct to prioritise breathing aligns with medical wisdom. Deep, controlled breathing reduces panic, stabilises heart rate, and oxygenates vital organs, which are critical in trauma cases. Doctors later confirmed his focus likely prevented further shock, giving his body a fighting chance.

“My Daughter Needed Me to Heal,” Says Jeremy Renner

Renner’s 12-day ICU stay was just the start. He faced months of rehab, relearning to walk and rebuilding muscle. “My daughter, Ava, became my reason to keep going,” he shared. “She gets better if I get better”. His memoir details gruelling physiotherapy and the emotional toll of facing mortality.

The Medical Nightmare for Jeremy Renner

Renner’s injuries read like a trauma textbook. Some of the injuries he suffered are mentioned below:

• Bones: 38+ fractures, including ribs (six ribs broken in 14 places), pelvis (three breaks), legs (tibia, femur, ankles), face (cheekbone, jaw, eye socket), and clavicle.
• Organs: Collapsed lung, bruised liver, pierced by a rib bone.
• Head: Major laceration requiring staples, left eyeball dislodged, right eardrum damaged.
• Vitals: Heart rate plummeted to 18 beats per minute near-fatal level.

Doctors later confirmed his manual breathing (forcing air in/out despite lung collapse) likely prevented cardiac arrest by maintaining oxygen flow.

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Conclusion

Jeremy Renner urges others to tackle challenges step by step, much like he did: “Put one foot down, then another, and move forward”. His accident, he says, taught him to cherish small moments and embrace resilience. Beyond Hollywood drama, Renner’s ordeal highlights the power of mindset in survival. Whether it’s a snowcat accident or daily stress, his message is clear: Breathe, focus, and keep going. As the actor said, “I’m not haunted by the accident. I’m reminded of how badass the human spirit is