Jeremy Renner. Screengrab from ABC News / YouTube
For the first time since he was ran over by a wayward snow plow in Lake Tahoe, Nevada in the United States on New Year’s day, Jeremy Renner spoke about the physical pain and and emotional anguish that he suffered, as well as his will to survive and quest for recovery.
Renner, 52, dressed in casual sweaters and khaki shorts, teared up as he recalled how his family has been with him throughout his harrowing ordeal during a sit-down interview with veteran news anchor Diane Sawyer. Snippets of the interview were released on Thursday (Wednesday in the US), but the full interview will air on April 6.
The Marvel actor, who played Clint Barton alias “Hawkeye” in the Avengers movies, sustained “blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries” last January 1 during a family holiday in Lake Tahoe when he tried to rescue his nephew who was stuck in three feet-thick snow near their lodge. The incident, however, landed him in the direct path of the plow that mercilessly crushed him underneath.
READ: Jeremy Renner reveals he broke ‘30 plus’ bones in snow plow accident
“Eight ribs broken in 14 places. Right knee, right ankle broken. Left leg tibia broken, left ankle broken. Right clavicle broken. Right shoulder broken. Face, eye socket, the jaw broken. Lung collapsed. Pierce from the rib bone to the liver. Sounds terrifying,” said Sawyer as she read from her notes. Renner could only tighten his lips as he nodded while Sawyer recited every injury that he sustained.
“I was, like, ‘What does my body look like? Am I just gonna be like a spine in there? Like a brain in a science experiment?'” he said.
“I heard that you had, in sign language, told your family, “I’m sorry,'” Sawyer then said.
“Yeah,” Renner, 52, nodded then gave a little smile before turning to one side and gave in to his emotions. “I’m sorry.”
The Mayor of Kingstown actor further gave more details into the incident, narrating that the snow plow began to roll away while he was not in the driver seat.
The video also included his succeeding rescue wherein 911 respondents can be heard as saying: “Hurry, there’s a lot of blood over here. He is in rough shape. Keep breathing, man. Keep fighting. Hang in there, brother.” In the background, a groaning voice with belabored breathing can be heard.
Renner was soon freed from the seven-ton contraption and was flown to the nearest hospital, where he was declared to be in a “stable but critical condition,” which required him to undergo two surgeries.
Image from Instagram / @jeremyrenner
During the interview, Renner thanked his fans for their support and messages while he was still recovering, saying this sustained him throughout his recovery period and therapy.
“I was awake through every moment,” Renner told Sawyer as he recalled the physical pain he felt.
The video likewise showed Renner doing therapy and exercises while recuperating at home, as he triumphed over his health scare.
“I chose to survive. It’s not gonna kill me, no way,” he said. “I’ve lost a lot of flesh and bones in this experience, but I’ve been filled and refilled with love and titanium.”
Aside from the Avengers movies and its “Hawkeye” spinoff, Renner has starred in two “Mission: Impossible” films and “Arrival,” “American Hustle” and “28 Weeks Later.”
He was nominated for an Academy Award for best actor for his work in 2008 film “The Hurt Locker” and for best supporting actor for his work in 2010 movie “The Town.” He was also in the Philippines in 2012 to shoot some scenes for “The Bourne Legacy.”
Renner is slated to make his in-person return to Hollywood during a red-carpet event and discussion of his docuseries “Rennervations,” on April 11. — with reports from Reuters