Sad Update About Jeremy Renner After Horrifying Snow Plow Accident – ‘Long Road To Recovery’

We previously reported that the Hollywood star Jeremy Renner, who is best known for playing Hawkeye in the Marvel movies, had been seriously injured in a snow plow accident on New Year’s Day. A sad update has since come in about Renner’s health, as it’s been revealed that the 51 year-old two-time Oscar nominee is facing “a long road to recovery.”

‘Long Road To Recovery’

“Jeremy is making positive progress,” a source close to Renner told People Magazine. “He is overwhelmed by the showing of love and support.”

However, the insider made a point of saying that Renner is in for “a long road to recovery,” indicating that Renner may be struggling with his injuries. 

Renner was trying to help a family member who became stuck in the snow near his home in Lake Tahoe on January 1 when the accident occurred.

“Mr. Renner went to retrieve his PistenBully, or snowcat — an extremely large piece of snow-removal equipment weighing at least 14,330 pounds — in an effort to get his vehicle moving. After successfully towing his personal vehicle from its stuck location, Mr. Renner got out of his PistenBully to speak to his family member,” said Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam.

“At this point, it is observed that the PistenBully started to roll. In an effort to stop the rolling PistenBully, Mr. Renner attempts to get back into the driver’s seat of the PistenBully,” Balaam added. “Based on our investigation, it’s at this point that Mr. Renner is run over by the PistenBully.”

Renner was left with “blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries,” and he had to be airlifted to the hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. He remains hospitalized in the intensive care unit of Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada, according to Fox News.

“We are so thrilled with his progress,” said his sister Kym. “If anyone knows Jeremy, he is a fighter and doesn’t mess around. He is crushing all the progress goals. We couldn’t feel more positive about the road ahead.”

Related: Jeremy Renner Slurs His Words In ICU Footage After Being ‘Completely Crushed’ By 14,330lbs Snow Plow

Doctor Weighs In 

Dr. Robert Glatter, assistant professor of emergency medicine at New York City’s Lenox Hill Hospital, said that the accident easily could have killed Renner, and that the actor’s road to recovery will be long and difficult.

“Getting run over by a nearly 15,000-pound piece of heavy machinery may not only be life-threatening, but life ending,” Glatter said. “The very fact that Renner has survived and is making good progress thus far is certainly encouraging.”

“Injuries resulting from such a mechanism of injury could include long bone fractures [femur, tibia], multiple rib fractures, a flail chest, a pulmonary contusion, a pneumothorax, [collapsed lung], and cardiac contusion with a possible sternal fracture,” he continued. 

“A hemothorax [blood in the chest wall cavity] is often a concern as well, which typically requires drainage by a chest tube or pigtail catheter,” Dr. Glatter explained. “The bruises seen under Renner’s eyes in some photos — known as “raccoon eyes” — could potentially indicate an injury such as a basilar skull fracture resulting from head trauma from the incident. One cannot also rule out facial fractures as the source of facial bruising and noted swelling.”

Related: Jeremy Renner Breaks His Silence After Devastating Snow Plow Accident As He Remains Hospitalized

Renner’s Road To Recovery

Glatter went on to talk about what Renner’s recovery will likely look like.

“Recovery from a fracture to the femur [thigh bone] or tibia [lower leg] with an external fixation device with pins can be prolonged and require physical therapy for several months,” he said.

“Recovery post fixation and surgery for his lower extremity fracture may result in chronic pain that could lead to a complex regional pain syndrome [CRPS] affecting his recovery,” Glatter added. “Renner’s doctors and other providers will be monitoring his progress in this regard, evaluating his recovery of function, especially his degree of pain and requirements for pain medication.”

While we’re thankful that Renner is still alive, it’s clear that he is in for a difficult few months. Please join us in saying a prayer for him as he tries to recover from this horrifying accident!