Jeremy Renner reflects on his near-fatal snowplough accident, recovery and getting back to work on Jimmy Fallon show: ‘There’s wonderful lessons in that, right?’

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Tonight Show (@fallontonight)

“I wasn’t confident in it, by any means, but it happened. We got it done. I think that’s even what the clip we even brought is part of that sequence, which is great,” he told host Jimmy Fallon.

Fallon, before playing the clip, inquired if the Avengers actor was “back up to 100 per cent” following the snowplough incident which left him with more than 30 broken bones, a collapsed lung and a pierced liver from a shattered rib. Renner answered, “I don’t know what that is. But I expect to be, like, 150 per cent by maybe the end of the year.” He added that doing stunts was challenging for him. “Cause I was barely kind of walking around. But, you know, I went up and just said, ”I’ll just try it.’ And put on these tennis shoes, I go, ‘Let me try it.’ Muscle memory just kind of happened,” he said.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Tonight Show (@fallontonight)

Jeremy Renner credited his recovery to the unwavering support of his family, particularly his daughter, and shared insights on embracing life’s challenges. “There’s wonderful lessons in that, right? I mean, I could go on and on about what happened in the 45 minutes of being on the ice. But the real learning lessons from it. There are so many great gifts that — are being tested to your limits, right? Your physical limits, your spiritual limits, right? Emotional limits. I won’t have a bad day for the rest of my life. It’s impossible. There’s that gift.”

Recounting his journey towards recovery, Renner added, “If we get too stressed, or things are too difficult, or if it’s insurmountable odds, or whatever it might be, just put one foot down. And then put another foot down. And then move towards it, right?”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jeremy Renner (@jeremyrenner)

As a result of his extensive injuries, Jeremy Renner’s rib cage was rebuilt with metal and metallic plates were used to reconstruct his eye socket. Additionally, a titanium rod and screws were inserted into his leg.

The Arrival actor also recalled how in 2023 when he was trying to clear a road, a 14,000-pound snowplough machine got out of control and moved towards his nephew. “So, I jumped back on it, or tried to, and got caught up in the tracks. And I broke, like, 38 bones and it was brutal, dude. It was brutal,’ Renner said. The actor added if had panicked, he would’ve died.

The The Tonight Show episode had some lighter moments, too. Renner recalled the day when he was hospitalised and received a text from Fallon in the ICU. “Dude, you’re trending!” Jimmy had texted him.