Some people just seem to have a special kind of luck. While most of us might stumble upon a bit of good fortune now and then, celebrities often seem to have extraordinary luck, making them not only rich and adored but also surviving what would be a catastrophe for most people.
It’s almost like some celebrities have a personal guardian angel, making sure their close calls with fate turn out alright. Over the years, many famous people have faced serious dangers but managed to come out on top. Here are a few who had terrifying brushes with death but miraculously survived.
10 celebrities who almost had near-death experiences
Emilia Clarke
During the filming of Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke experienced two life-threatening aneurysms. The first caused her to struggle with speech, and the second led to a brain hemorrhage during surgery. Despite these severe health challenges, Clarke made an impressive recovery, defying the odds.
Benedict Cumberbatch
British actor Benedict Cumberbatch’s story is less known but equally harrowing. In 2004, while in South Africa, he and his friends were held at gunpoint, forced to beg for ransom, and stuffed into the trunk of a car. They were eventually left tied up by the side of the road, but thankfully, they survived.
Petra Nemcova
When the 2004 tsunami struck Asia, supermodel Petra Nemcova was in Thailand. Caught by the massive waves while on the beach with her boyfriend, she clung to a palm tree for eight hours, surviving the ordeal. Sadly, her boyfriend did not survive, but Petra’s survival was a remarkable stroke of luck.
Keith Richards
Rock legend Keith Richards seems to have a knack for narrowly escaping death. Not only did he overcome a severe heroin addiction, but he also survived a dangerous fall from a coconut tree in 2006. That same week, he had a jet ski accident and even crashed his car on multiple occasions. His ability to survive these close calls is almost legendary.
Travis Barker
Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker faced a horrifying experience in 2008 when the Learjet he was on crashed right after takeoff. The jet went off the runway and burst into flames. While Barker and his friend Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein survived with severe burns, the pilot and co-pilot, as well as two other passengers, tragically did not.
Ed Harris
Actor Ed Harris had a near-death experience while filming The Abyss in 1989. During underwater scenes, he nearly drowned when a crew member couldn’t reach him with the needed oxygen. Just when things seemed dire, a cameraman managed to get him the regulator, saving his life.
Jeremy Renner
In 2023, Jeremy Renner had a near-fatal accident while using a snowcat to pull out a truck. When the snowcat started rolling toward his nephew, Renner tried to stop it but missed. He ended up with multiple broken bones and ribs but managed to survive, showcasing his real-life heroism.
Seth MacFarlane
Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy, was supposed to be on the flight that crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11. Due to a hangover and a mix-up with his travel plans, he missed the flight and narrowly avoided being on that tragic plane.
Harrison Ford
Actor Harrison Ford has survived two serious aircraft crashes. The first, in 1999, happened while he was training as a pilot, and he had to land the helicopter in a riverbed. The second crash occurred a year later due to high winds, but Ford walked away uninjured both times.
David Spade
David Spade faced a shocking brush with death in 2000 when his assistant attempted to murder him. The assistant broke into Spade’s apartment, used a stun gun on him, but Spade managed to escape and lock himself in the bathroom until help arrived.
These celebrities show that sometimes, luck isn’t just about winning the lottery or finding a dollar on the street; it’s about surviving life-threatening situations and coming out stronger on the other side.
