Celebrities Who Survived Freak Accidents – SheKnows

By Sydney Barrett Last updated Aug 27, 2023

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Many people, even celebrities, experience freak accidents in their lifetime. In fact, according to a recent 2019 study, about one in ten people will experience a near-death experience at some point in their lifetime, and many celebrities are included in that statistic.

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Accidents happen all the time and can be scary. You hear about it on the news and shudder at the thought as you start your day. People often talk about the fatalities in accidents such as plane crashes, sports accidents and more. Our thoughts go out to all those who have lost their lives or are affected by accidents like these, but we will talk about the times when celebrities miraculously stayed alive after horrifying incidents.

Whether they have scars, dozens of broken bones, emotional scars that take decades to disappear, or even stay intact, so many A-listers have a story. Some have survived plane crashes, others have survived disturbing childhood events.

From stories like Rachel Bilson’s coma to Martha Stewart’s triple lightning strike, accidents happen, and these celebrities have weighed in on their stories.

Check out below which stars have survived some horrific, freak accidents over the years:

Travis Barker

Photo Credit: Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images.

In 2008, Travis Barker’s life changed forever when he and his late friends were involved in a plane crash. While surviving, he suffered third-degree burns over most of his body, underwent over 25 surgeries, and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Leonardo DiCaprio

Photo Credit: Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images.

According to Diply, Leonardo DiCaprio had several freak accidents, such as surviving a great white shark attack, a plane crash, and even a skydiving accident.
Kaley Cuoco

Photo Credit: Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images.

Kaley Cuoco’s freak accident involved horseback riding, Ellen Degeneres revealed via Horsetalk. “I was in a terrible accident,” she said, speaking about her leg scars. “At the end of the lesson my horse got scared and I didn’t really expect it and I fell off. I actually wanted to get up, but my horse was still scared.”
Martha Stewart

Credit: Photo by Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty Images.

Not only was Martha Stewart struck by lightning, she was struck by lightning three times, revealing details in a previous game on Ellen DeGeneres’ show.
KylieJenner

Credit: Photo by Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty Images.

According to UsMagazine, Kylie Jenner also suffered a knobby scar after an unusual accident that left a pole lodged in her leg.
Miranda Cosgrove

Photo Credit: Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images.

In 2011, Miranda Cosgrove was in a horrific car accident with her tour bus, breaking her ankle and leaving a mysterious hole in her leg.
George Clooney

Photo Credit: Photo by Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images.

George Clooney’s freak accident was younger than others: in 2018 to be precise. While traveling in Italy on his motorcycle, he collided with another car and disclosed the damage to the Hollywood Reporter.

“It split my helmet in half, it threw me out of my shoes. I was hit hard,” he said. “I was just waiting for the switch to turn off because I smashed his windshield with my head and I was like, ‘Okay, that’s my neck.’ If you get nine lives, I’ll use them all at once – so I can give up motorcycling for a while.”
Amy Schumer

Image Credit: Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images.

Amy Schumer’s accident happened while she was surfing in high school, according to Vanity Fair, where the fin on her board went deep into her leg and caused major blood loss.
Alison Brie

Credit: Photo by Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty Images.

Alison Brie previously said she fell when she was seven and suffered a concussion that left her unable to see. On the way to the hospital, she and her father were involved in a car accident. Luckily, according to TooFab, she regained her sight within 10 hours.
Rachel Bilson

Photo Credit: Photo by John Salangsang/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images.

Rachel Bilson recalled to the Mirror being in a coma for a few days after a car crash, saying: “Everyone was lucky to have survived… I was driving on the Pacific Coast Highway with my girlfriend and these two boys. We were traveling very fast and were involved in a head-on collision with a truck. We were in a tiny car and it was a pretty bad accident. They had to cut us out and I was in a coma for a few days.”
Isla Fisher

Photo Credit: Photo by Rich Polk/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images.

While filming Now You See Me, Isla Fisher nearly died while filming one of the film’s main scenes: the underwater scene in which she was chained. She told Chelsea Handler on Chelsea Lately per HuffPost: “Everyone thought I was acting great. I was actually drowning. … Nobody realized that I actually had problems.”
KanyeWest

Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/`/Penske Media via Getty Images.

Just two weeks after signing his life-changing record deal, Kanye West fell asleep at the wheel and suffered a car accident that left him with a broken jaw.
Justin Theroux

Credit: Photo by Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty Images.

Justin Theroux almost had brain surgery after being hit by a van and losing his memory for a short time, and yet he was given a clean bill of health soon after, according to People.
Sandra Bullock

Image Credit: Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images.

Sandra Bullock survived a near-fatal plane crash in Wyoming in 2001 when the plane skidded off the runway, according to the Guardian.
Harrison Ford

Photo Credit: Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images.

In 2015, while flying his vintage WWII-era plane, Harrison Ford noticed an engine failure and had to make an emergency landing. Luckily, he survived but suffered a few broken bones and lacerations, according to CBSNews.
50 cents

Photo Credit: Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images.

According to insiders, 50 Cent was nearly shot in 2000 after being shot nine times in New York.
Mariska Hargitay

Photo Credit: Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images.

According to People, Mariska Hargitay and her two brothers survived the tragic 1967 car accident that killed their mother, Jayne Mansfield.
bono

Image Credit: Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for (RED) Auction 2018.

In 2014, after a freak bicycle accident, Bono was left with broken bones, a fractured eye socket, a broken hand, and a fractured shoulder blade.
Padma Lakshmi

Photo Credit: Photo by Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty Images.

In a previous interview, according to Prevention, Padma Lakshmi revealed that at the age of 14 she was “hit by a trailer truck and fell 12 meters down an embankment,” leaving a large scar on her arm.
Jeremy Renner

Photo Credit: Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images.

On January 1, 2023, Jeremy Renner was run over by a snow plow and miraculously survived, but suffered over 30 broken bones.