Jeremy Renner Reveals Critical Moment That Changed His Life Forever In Snowplow Accident
The Avengers star shares harrowing details of the split-second decision that led to near-fatal injury
Pratibha holds a master's degree in English from Madras University. A bookworm from a young age, she devours books and digital humanities to nourish her writing projects. Pratibha began her writing career in 2018 and has experience writing formal, informal, and technical content.
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In a powerful and deeply personal account, Jeremy Renner has shared the exact moment that changed his life forever during his near-fatal snowplow accident on New Year’s Day 2023. The Hollywood star’s recollection comes from his upcoming memoir “My Next Breath,” set to release on April 29.
“We were working on the long, winding driveway that climbs to an expansive parking area in front of my house,” Renner writes in the excerpt shared on his Instagram. “I was in the cab of the snowcat, and my nephew Alex was on the ground attaching the Ford truck to the back of the snowcat with chains.”
The actor details how they successfully freed the truck from the snow, and his nephew went to detach it from the snowcat. It was then that Renner made a split-second decision that would have life-altering consequences.
“I got out of the driver’s seat and stepped on the tracks to talk to him,” Renner reveals. But in that critical moment, he forgot a crucial safety step: “‘Before exiting the driver’s cab! — Apply parking brake,’ the manual says. But I didn’t engage the parking brake, or disengage the steel tracks.”
The Academy Award-nominated actor reflects on this oversight with painful clarity: “In that moment — an innocent, critical, life-changing moment — that tiny but monumental slip of the mind would change the course of my life forever.”
While the Instagram post doesn’t detail the immediate aftermath, the accident left Renner with over 30 broken bones and life-threatening injuries when the 14,000-pound PistenBully snowcat ran him over. The actor spent weeks in the hospital and has undergone extensive rehabilitation since.
In one of his previous Instagram posts promoting the memoir, Renner wrote: “I’m so very excited to share such an intimate narrative, detailing all things that transpired during the incident, the love, the loss, the recovery and the wonderful lessons and confirmations of life and beyond.”
The images accompanying the post show Renner in a contemplative pose, photographed by Guerin Blask for The Sunday Times Magazine, suggesting the actor is ready to share his journey of recovery with the world.
“My Next Breath” appears to be a deeply personal project for Renner. Just last week, he posted a photo of himself with the finished book, saying, “I love how the finished book looks and I can’t wait for you all to read it.”
The memoir chronicles not just the accident but also Renner’s perspective on life and death following his near-fatal experience. In another recent post, he reflected: “In death, I’ve concluded that life should be oversimplified—made magical, filled with curiosity and wonderment fueled by the unmitigated power of LOVE, as love is the DNA of the spirit and the only thing that continues eternally.”
Fans will have opportunities to hear directly from Renner about his experience, as he’s announced several in-person events to coincide with the book’s release. “I’ll be onstage in New York and Pittsburgh talking about My Next Breath. Tickets are available at the link in bio—each one includes a copy of the book,” he shared in a recent post.
The actor has also added a London stop to his promotional tour, giving international fans a chance to hear his story firsthand.
Despite the life-altering accident, Renner’s career continues to thrive. He’s currently filming Season 4 of “Mayor of Kingstown” in Pittsburgh, balancing his recovery with his return to acting.
The two-time Oscar nominee (for “The Hurt Locker” in 2010 and “The Town” in 2011) has maintained a positive outlook throughout his recovery journey. As he told Jetset Magazine recently, “The 2010 Oscar nomination for playing bomb-disposal maverick William James didn’t just open doors—it kicked them down. Suddenly, I was in rooms I’d never been in before. The industry started looking at me differently.”
That same resilience appears to be guiding him through this challenging chapter of his life.
In a touching video shared recently, Renner captured the moment his daughter saw his book for the first time. “I asked her to wait for me… and she did,” he captioned the post, highlighting the important role his family has played in his recovery journey.
His close friendship with fellow Marvel star Paul Rudd was also showcased in a recent birthday tribute, demonstrating the strong support system Renner has maintained throughout his career and recovery.
As the release date for “My Next Breath” approaches, Renner’s willingness to share his vulnerability and journey offers fans a rare glimpse into the actor’s personal life and the profound impact of his near-death experience. The memoir promises to be not just a recounting of a tragic accident, but a meditation on life, resilience, and the power of love in the face of extraordinary challenges.
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