Questions are still being asked about the entertainer's demise
In 2018, George Clooney experienced a life-threatening incident when a car collided with his motorcycle in Sardinia. The accident took place while he was filming 'Catch 22' on the Italian island. As a result of the collision, Clooney was thrown off his bike, soaring over the handlebars. Reflecting on this harrowing experience in an interview with The Times, he said, "I was waiting for my switch to turn off." Thankfully, he made a full recovery.
In October 2019, Bradley Cooper encountered a frightening incident while riding the subway in New York City. Engrossed in his music, wearing noise-canceling headphones, he unexpectedly found himself held at knifepoint. Recounting the incident, Cooper shared the details of the event. "I was on the subway [at] 11:45 to pick Lea up downtown at Russian school and I got held up at knifepoint," he explained. "It was pretty insane."
The actor was traveling in a small plane owned by his friend Bruce Robinson when the engine suddenly stopped working. Luckily, the engine restarted before the plane took a dive and they successfully landed without any harm.
The actress suffered a near-fatal neck fracture while attempting a backflip on a motorcycle during the filming of 'Aon Flux.' The production was temporarily interrupted for eight weeks to facilitate her recovery.
During the production of 'The Expendables 3,' the actor had a near-death experience when the truck he was operating experienced brake failure, causing him to plunge into the sea. Fortunately, he successfully extricated himself and swam to safety.
The actress sustained multiple severe injuries during the filming of the movie 'Catwoman,' which included eye and head injuries. She was hit in the head with a lighting prop that fell during a scene.
In February 2021, Ashley Judd shared her harrowing experience in the Congolese jungle, where she suffered a severe leg injury from a fall. Taking to Instagram, she expressed her gratitude for the local people who played a crucial role in her survival, stating, "My internal bleeding would have likely killed me" without their help. Judd's leg was fractured in four places, causing nerve damage. During this distressing time, a man named Dieumerci remained by her side for five hours, trying to keep her still. Another local named Papa Jean came to her assistance, providing a stick for her to bite on as he carefully readjusted the shattered pieces of her leg right there on the jungle floor.
Afterwards, she was transported on a hammock for a three-hour journey across difficult terrain. Following that, she traveled for six hours on a motorbike. Throughout this tumultuous journey, she received comfort and assistance from the local community. It wasn't until two days later that she finally reached a South African operating table. Expressing her gratitude, she shared on Instagram, "I wake up weeping in gratitude, deeply moved by each person who contributed something life giving and spirit salving during my grueling 55 hour odyssey”.
The actor narrowly escaped being attacked by a shark during a diving expedition in South Africa. Although he was safely enclosed in a protective cage, the shark was able to penetrate the bars halfway, attempting to bite him.
The actress has shared in interviews that she came close to death on two occasions. The first incident occurred in 1990 when she was involved in a car accident, resulting in a dislocated jaw, sprained back, broken rib, and twisted knee. The recovery period lasted a lengthy six months. The second near-death experience took place in 2001 when she faced a life-threatening aneurysm.
At the age of 21, the actor suffered a three-story fall after attempting to climb a drainpipe. Although he was paralyzed for four days, he made a full recovery.
In 2001, the actress managed to survive a massive fire thanks to her dog, who started barking intensely when the fire broke out. Drew and her husband were sleeping but luckily woke up just in time to evacuate.
At the age of 17, the actor experienced a parachute malfunction during a skydiving lesson, but successfully used the reserve parachute to land safely.
During the production of 'Back to the Future III,' the actor had a near-death experience when he misplaced his hands while filming a scene in which he was hung from the neck by a rope. At first, everyone thought he was giving an incredibly realistic performance, but thankfully they realized just in time that he wasn't acting.
The vocalist narrowly escaped a fatal incident when the rear exit of his personal aircraft became detached while in flight. Thankfully, the plane safely landed and no injuries were reported.
Bam Margera appeared on Steve-O's 'Wild Ride' podcast and told the story of his near-death experience. The then-43-year-old was hospitalized with pneumonia and a severe case of COVID-19 after suffering multiple seizures. “Basically, I was pronounced dead on Dec. 8,” Margera said. “I did not know that I had COVID and my body was shutting down. I went into four seizures, each one lasting 10 to 20 minutes. On the fourth one I bit my tongue so hard it was nearly fallen off." When he was finally hospitalized he suffered a fifth seizure and was put on a ventilator. "I woke up five days later thinking I was there for just a couple hours. I spent eight days in there."
Actress Denise Richards and her husband escaped unharmed after a concerning incident of road rage. Richards and her husband, Aaron, were on their way to a film and TV studio in Los Angeles in a pickup truck. While they were searching for street parking, a driver behind them became enraged and started shouting. The angry driver then squeezed past them and proceeded to shoot at their vehicle from the driver's side. Their truck was damaged but, luckily, the couple wasn't hit.
A 42-year-old man named David DePape invaded the home of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and her husband, Paul Pelosi on October 28, 2023. DePape entered their home after 2 am and found Paul Pelosi alone in bed. He reportedly began shouting "Where is Nancy?" and attempted to tie Pelosi up. Pelosi managed to make a desperate 911 call at the beginning of the attack before things escalated and left the line open for the dispatcher. When police arrived at the home they saw DePape and Pelosi struggling over a hammer that DePape had brought to attack Pelosi. The officers ordered both men to let go of the weapon, but DePape managed to strike Pelosi violently with the hammer before he was tackled to the ground. Pelosi was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery to repair a fractured skull. He also sustained serious injuries to his right arm and hands.
On New Year's Day, 2023, actor Jeremy Renner suffered severe injuries after being pulled under a snowplow that slid down an icy hill. Renner was trying to save his nephew from being hit by the seven-ton vehicle when he himself became a victim. He sustained multiple injuries, including eight broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and more than 20 other broken bones.
British actress Georgie Henley, best known for starring in the 'Narnia' film series as a child, revealed that she nearly died at 18 after contracting necrotizing fasciitis. The terrifying condition is more commonly known as flesh-eating disease. Henley described it as "a rare and punishing infection that nearly claimed my life and wrought havoc throughout my body" in a candid Instagram post. Almost a decade after the horrific experience, Henley spoke out with pride about her scars and the horrifying illness she survived.
Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder revealed that he had a serious battle with COVID at the beginning of 2022. He said that he "literally saw my life flash in front of my eyes." Vedder expressed his gratitude and amazement that he had recovered from such a grave illness and was able to perform again.
Flavor Flav narrowly escaped death when a large boulder struck his car. According to TMZ, the rapper was driving from Las Vegas to LA when rain caused a boulder to fall from a cliffside in La Tuna Canyon, crashing into the right side of his car. He lost control of the vehicle for a moment, but escaped unharmed. If the boulder had struck just a few feet closer to the front of the car, it would likely have killed him.
The star of 'Finding Carter' was struck by a cement truck in New York City, resulting in severe injuries across her body. In the accident, Kathryn suffered fractures in her pelvis, both legs, foot, as well as her left hand.
Rebel Wilson shared her terrifying experience of being abducted while on vacation in Mozambique. During an episode of 'Straight Talking,' she recounted how she and a group of women were traveling in a cattle truck in a rural area when they were stopped by armed men. The men ordered them to abandon their vehicle and took them to a remote house. Wilson and the other women spent the night there before being released unharmed the next morning. "We didn’t ask any questions," Wilson said, but she suspected that the men used their truck to smuggle illegal goods.
Simon Cowell suffered a severe bike accident in 2020, resulting in multiple fractures and necessitating a lengthy six-hour surgery. The incident occurred as he was test riding his newly acquired electric bike, accompanied by his son and his girlfriend's son, when he fell and landed on his back. On Twitter, he shared some valuable advice, stating, "If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time."
In an interview with The Guardian, actor Gary Busey shared his account of a motorcycle accident he experienced in 1988. Despite not wearing a helmet, he survived but endured a severe skull fracture. Following brain surgery, he reportedly passed away briefly. Busey claims to have had an otherworldly experience during this time, where he found himself in the spiritual realm surrounded by angels and luminous orbs. In addition, he described feeling as if his soul had transformed into a narrow, elongated form, residing within the column of his spine.
The actor further stated that he was given guidance by the angels regarding his life's direction and his duty to humanity. He also mentions being offered the option to return to his physical form or remain in the afterlife. Busey described the process of dying as "pleasant, liberating, and delightful."
While on a vacation in Hawaii, the actress found herself in a perilous situation when she got caught in a powerful current. Fortunately, a heroic surfer came to her rescue, pulling her to safety.
In 1999, the actor experienced a major case of sunstroke after jogging in the sun while wearing multiple layers of clothing. Lawrence, who was attempting to shed pounds for a role, ended up in the hospital and went into a coma for a short time.
In 2006, the actor experienced a significant car accident when his brakes malfunctioned, resulting in a collision with another vehicle. Though he sustained severe injuries, he fortunately made a full recovery.
The musician was the victim of a shooting as he stood in front of his grandmother's house in Queens, New York.
In 2016, the singer had a near-death experience in a lake in Norway. She had to escape out of the roof of her car in sub-zero temperatures when the ice broke underneath the vehicle she was traveling in.
Ozzy had a severe accident while riding an all-terrain vehicle in 2003. The incident resulted in multiple broken ribs, a fractured clavicle, and spinal injuries.
During the production of 'Kelly's Heroes,' the actor fell ill with meningitis and nearly died. He claimed to have seen a light at the end of the tunnel while unconscious in hospital.
According to MTV, the rapper had a methadone overdose in the past after getting the pills from an acquaintance without knowing what they were.
During the shooting of 'Now You See Me,' the actress had a near-death experience. While performing a scene, she found herself in a dire situation inside a water tank. It took three minutes for someone to notice her distress and activate the safety lever, ultimately saving her life.
In 2002, a car accident left the rapper with serious injuries. West has shared in interviews how this incident became a pivotal moment in his career.
In early 2016, the actress suffered injuries when she was struck by a car, resulting in fractures to both legs. As a result, she underwent an extensive period of physiotherapy.
The man behind 'Family Guy' was set to be on one of the planes that collided with the Twin Towers on 9/11. However, Seth, who had a hangover from a previous night of partying, arrived 10 minutes late and missed his flight.
The actress was involved in a serious car accident at the age of 14, which nearly claimed her life. As a result of the head injuries she sustained, she continues to experience intense migraines up to the present day.
He continued, "I was all the way at the end of the subway. I felt somebody coming up. I thought, 'Oh, they want to take a photo or something.'" However, this wasn't the case. "I looked down and I see a knife." Throughout the terrifying encounter, Cooper could only hear the music playing in his ears. "So it's scored, the whole thing was scored." The assailant got off the subway and ran. Cooper followed him and hailed down some police officers in the street.
In an interview during his recovery, Renner recounted the day of the accident when he was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Fighting back tears, he revealed that, fearing the worst, he had started writing his "final words" to his loved ones on his phone. Fortunately, he successfully underwent multiple surgeries and is now on the path to recovery.
Travis Barker was the sole survivor of a harrowing plane crash in 2008, which he says was the defining moment that changed his life. During an interview with Men's Health, the renowned Blink-182 drummer candidly discussed the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) he still grapples with from the incident. Barker and his friend Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein were onboard a flight returning from a concert when the plane's tires burst during takeoff, leading to a devastating fire. Tragically, the crash claimed the lives of his assistant Chris Baker, security guard Charles Still, and both pilots.
While Barker and Goldstein (left) survived, Barker suffered severe third-degree burns across half his body. Sadly, roughly a year later, Goldstein passed away due to an accidental overdose. "It will never make sense why my friends are gone, or the pilots, but all I can do is carry on. I can't regret anything. I'm 100% supposed to be here," he said.
On August 12, 2022, renowned author Salman Rushdie was almost killed in a vicious surprise attack during a speaking engagement in New York. Hadi Matar, a 24-year-old man, was accused of ambushing Rushdie and stabbing him at least 10 times before he was restrained by witnesses. Rushdie sustained three stab wounds to the right side of his neck, four stab wounds to his stomach, a puncture wound to his right eye, a puncture wound to his chest, and a laceration on his right thigh. Although he survived, he lost his sight in one eye and the ability to use one of his hands as a result of the attack. In an interview with the BBC in 2024, Rushdie reflected, “I came very close to dying. And when you get that close, when you get a really good look at it, it stays with you. It’s much closer to the front of my head than it used to be.”
Many major stars have come scarily close to the point of no return but avoided death because they got lucky, got rescued, or got life-saving medical treatment. Let's explore the incredible stories of these celebrities who almost crossed over to the other side. Click through the gallery to get started.
During a concert by the Jonas Brothers at the O2 Arena in Prague on Tuesday night, Nick Jonas was targeted by a laser pointer, prompting a brief halt in the show. Midway through the performance, the 32-year-old American singer dashed off the stage while making a 'time out' gesture. “We can confirm that the Jonas Brothers’ performance had to be interrupted for several minutes due to the use of a prohibited laser pointer by the person,” an O2 Arena spokesperson said. “The organizing service responded to this fact. After a few minutes, the band continued their performance.”
Near-death experiences of the stars
Nick Jonas runs off the stage as a laser beam is pointed at his forehead
CELEBRITY Accidents
Many major stars have come scarily close to the point of no return but avoided death because they got lucky, got rescued, or got life-saving medical treatment. Let's explore the incredible stories of these celebrities who almost crossed over to the other side. Click through the gallery to get started.