Jeremy Renner fights tears as he speaks out in first interview since snowplow accident
Marvel star Jeremy Renner became emotional as he spoke out in his first interview since he was run over by a snowplow.
The actor spoke with ABC's Diane Sawyer, reflecting on the pain he experienced on 1 January 2023:
Renner, 52, broke more than 30 bones on New Year's Day when his Sno-Cat snowplow, which weighed at least 14,330 pounds, ran him over while he was trying to help a family member.
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He was hospitalised and in the weeks since has occasionally been keeping fans updated with his recovery on Instagram, where he's shared snaps of himself from his hospital bed.
Renner has now spoken publicly for the first time, revealing that he was conscious the entire time the huge vehicle ran over him.
"[I remember] all of it," he said in the interview. "I was awake through all of it."
Renner was trying to use the snowplow to help his adult nephew get his car out of deep snow near Renner's home in Lake Tahoe, but forgot to put the emergency brake on when he got out of the vehicle to help him.
The snowplow started rolling towards Renner's nephew, but when the actor ran to try and get back inside and gain control of the vehicle, he was pulled underneath it and crushed.
Later, when he was unable to speak, Renner used sign language to tell his family he was 'sorry' for what had happened.
The actor fought back tears as he remembered that moment with Sawyer, before apologising for getting emotional.
The ABC interview features a recording of the 911 call made in the wake of the accident, with the caller telling the emergency services there was a 'lot of blood'.
Renner's nephew admitted he thought his uncle was dead after he went under the snowplow, recalling how he could see him 'in a pool of blood coming from his head'.
"I ran up to him, I didn't think he was alive," he said.
In spite of the pain and injuries he suffered, Renner made clear he has no regrets for trying to stop the snowplow.
"I would do it again," he said. "It was coming right at my nephew. I would do it again."
Reflecting on his willpower and strength after being crushed by the machine, Renner stressed one thing: "I chose to survive. You can't kill me. No way."
The full interview with Renner is set to air on 6 April.
Topics: Marvel, Film and TV, Celebrity
Emily Brown