Sam Amico
Actor Jeremy Renner wasn’t expecting to survive after being crushed by a 14,330lb snow plow on New Year’s Day, he told ABC’s Diane Sawyer in an exclusive interview.
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Renner, 52, was run over by the plow while he was attempting to help nephew Alexander Fries get his car out of the snow. Renner was driving a Snowcat, but as he jumped out, he forgot to hit the emergency brake.
That led to the plow sliding toward his Fries and Renner immediately attempting to get back to save his nephew. Renner was airlifted to hospital after the accident and broke more than 30 bones, as well as suffering a collapsed lung and pierced liver.
Diane Sawyer Interviews Renner
Miraculously, the Mayor of Kingstown survived and is in the midst of a long and painful rehabilitation.
“If I was there on my own, it would have been a horrible way to die. And surely I would have. Surely,” Renner told Sawyer.
At one point, Renner didn’t think he would make it. So he began to write a note to his family on his phone.
“So I’m writing down notes on my phone, and last words to my family,” he said, holding back tears.
Despite the near-death experience, multiple injuries, and painful rehab, Renner added that he has no doubts that he did the right thing.
“I’d do it again,” he said. “Because it was going right at my nephew.”
Asked by Sawyer if he sees the same face when he looks in the mirror, Renner said he does not.
“No, I see a lucky man,” he said. “I chose to survive. You’re not going to kill me. No way.”
