Most people have heard the expression "my life flashed before my eyes." It's a widely reported phenomenon that occurs when a person has a near-death experience in which the totality of their life rapidly flashes before their eyes. This phrase is a trope or expression that we see and hear in books and movies, but it's a real-life occurrence. Scientists call it a "life review."
While celebrities seem invincible, they are not. Near-death experiences are said to change the course of a person's life forever. Often, these occurrences end up humbling people or making them realize how much they love their lives. Sometimes, near-death experiences can make people more giving, loving, and better people, and of course, thankful. Let's examine what Zac Efron and nine other celebrities had to say about their near-death experiences.
10 Zac Efron Contracted A Deadly Infection
While filming his adventure docuseries Killing Zac Efron in 2019, The High School Music actor contracted a deadly infection in Papa New Guinea. Doctors treated Efron in the neighboring country Australia, and he was very thankful for everyone who reached out to him. He bounced back quickly and was happy to go home for the holidays to spend time with friends and family. Efron also nearly experienced death when he was cycling with Hugh Jackman in London, and a double-decker bus almost hit him.
9 Isla Fisher Almost Drowned
The ever-brave Isla Fisher was filming a stunt in a water tank on the set of Now You See Me. Unfortunately, her release chain got stuck in her costume, and she wasn't able to reach the panic button at the top of the tank. Fisher explained that she was trapped underwater for three minutes and ran out of breath. The crew thought that she was putting on a realistic performance, but she genuinely fought for her life. All Fisher could think about was how ridiculous she was going to look on the autopsy table and realized that although the crew set up so many safety precautions set up, there should have been a signal or gesture for "Help! I'm drowning!"
8 Sandra Bullock's Plane Skidded Into The Snow
In 2000, Sandra Bullock's private jet landed in Wyoming. There was a blizzard going on at the time, and the plane skidded into the snow. The Miss Congeniality actress has called it a freak accident, but the sheriff in town explained to Bullock that Bullock would not be here if the landing occurred any other way.
7 Tracy Morgan Almost Died In A Car Accident
In 2014, Tracy Morgan was in a car accident, which unfortunately killed his friend James McNair. While Morgan survived, it left him in a coma. Morgan expressed to Complex that "you're never going to be normal after you go through something like that. You don't die for a few weeks and then come back to normal, trust me." He also said, "Do you know what God said to me? He said, 'Your room ain't ready. I still got something for you to do."
6 George Clooney Was In A Motorcycle Accident
George Clooney was in Olbia, Italy, while filming Catch-22. While Clooney rode his motorcycle at 70 miles per hour, he collided with a Mercedes. The accident split his helmet in half, and the impact was so hard that it knocked him out of his shoes. Clooney ended up landing on his knees, but he has shared that he may not have been so lucky if he landed anywhere else. Understandably, Clooney gave up riding his motorcycle for a while.
5 Gary Busey Died But Came Back
Entertainment Tonight reported that actor Gary Busey died but came back after brain surgery. His near-death experience in a motorcycle crash changed his life forever. He rode his motorcycle without wearing a helmet, and his head hit a curb, splitting his head open. Busey felt as if angels surrounded him. After recovering, he wrote words down such as "faith." an acronym that stood for " Fantastic, Adventurous in Trusting Him."
4 Lamar Odom Overdosed On Drugs
One of the causes of Lamar Odom's divorce from his high school sweetheart and ex-wife Liza Morales is how he handled grief after losing their 6-month old son to SIS. One of his coping mechanisms was cocaine usage. In 2015, Odom experienced a drug overdose and was found unconscious in a Nevada brothel. Odom expressed that he didn't think he had a problem, let alone believed that he would die. Odom shared that when you're an addict, you feel invincible. After Odom woke up in a hospital bed and seeing so many tubes, he knew that he shook hands with death.
3 Eminem Overdosed As Well, But On Pills
Eminem's Recovery album unveiled his inner demons, one of them being the dangerous amount of pills he took. Around Christmas in 2007, Eminem overdosed and almost died. Even after that experience, he relapsed a month later and finally decided that he was tired of living that way. Eminem also struggled with alcohol addiction, but as of 2020, he's been clear for twelve years.
2 Kanye West Had A Brush With Death In A Car Accident
Before Kanye was as famous as he is now, in 2002, he got into a car accident where he almost died. His debut album "Through the Wire." revealed his thoughts about his experience. He shared that because of that experience, every time he goes into the studio, he acts as if it could be his final day. Kanye didn't want the car accident to be the end of his legacy.
1 50 Cent Was Shot 9 Times
Before his rise to fame, in 2000, 50 Cent was shot nine times outside his grandmother's home. The "In Da Club" rapper was shot in both legs, chest, hand, arm, and left cheek. The shot through his cheek is the reason why he raps with a signature slur. It took him 13 weeks to recover in in-patient care. His debut album, strategically named "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'," detailed the experience. After the shooting, 50 Cent felt afraid and angry, but after some time, minor things such as a deal going bad didn't leave him with fear. Losing his mother and having a brush with death was scarier.