Madonna to Leonardo DiCaprio: 10 stars whose near-death experiences will leave you stunned

10 stars whose near-death experiences will leave you stunned

Despite their apparent invincibility, celebrities are susceptible to the whims of fate and its consequences. Near-death experiences frequently influence who we are because they act as reality checks and a constant reminder that our time on Earth is limited. A recent encounter with "toxic caterpillars" while on vacation in Portugal left Jamie Dornan hospitalized with "heart attack symptoms," according to his pal Gordon Smart, per Daily Mail. Explore which celebs have gone through such near-death experiences and are now wiser than ever.

1. Jamie Dornan

'Tourist' actor Jamie Dornan, 41, began experiencing heart attack symptoms while on vacation in Portugal with friends, including 'Good Morning Britain' host Gordon Smart. The symptoms were most likely brought on by 'toxic' caterpillars. Gordon revealed that barely one day into the vacation, Dornan experienced "tingling in his left hand and tickling in his left arm" and was found to have a heart rate of 120mph at the hospital.

2. Madonna

Madonna was taken to the critical care unit on her 2023 world tour due to a severe bacterial infection. Despite the cancellation of all upcoming performances, the celebrity was anticipated to fully recover. During her sold-out Brooklyn gig, the pop icon, who nearly had a fatal encounter with the almost fatal infection in June 2023, remarked, "I do not take anything for granted. There are some very important people in this room tonight that were with me in the hospital," per The Mirror.

3. Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo Dicaprio has experienced an ample number of near-death experiences related to travel. The famous actor was forced to make an emergency landing at JFK after seeing the plane's engine malfunctioning on takeoff while traveling to Russia. The actor's thrill-seeking exploits have also brought him some close calls. In 2006, he nearly got attacked by a big white shark while scuba diving in South Africa, and once his parachute malfunctioned during a skydiving jump.

4. Rachel Bilson

Rachel Bilson nearly lost her life in a vehicle accident at 14 years old. She often talks about her near-death experience, essentially saying that she died and then rose from the dead. Bilson had previously mentioned that following a car accident, she was unconscious for several days and stated, "Everyone was lucky to have survived…I was with my girlfriend and these two guys driving down the Pacific Coast Highway. We were going really fast and we were involved in a head-on collision with a truck. We were in a tiny car and it was a pretty bad crash. They had to cut us out and I was in a coma for a few days," per SheKnows.

5. Sylvester Stallone

Balboa defeats Ivan Drago in the Russian's garden in 'Rocky 4' but things were a little different in real life. Sylvester Stallone aimed for a realistic appearance in the fight scenes and he persisted in pressing Dolph Lundgren to hit him more forcefully. Lundgren consented to punch Stallone in the chest so forcefully that it nearly killed him. Stallone felt his heart swell and pound against his breastbone. Stallone stated after spending a few weeks in an intensive care unit, "The beating became labored, and without medical attention the heart would’ve continued to swell until it stopped."

6. Jason Statham

The "toughest" and "baddest" guy in all of Hollywood, Jason Statham, nearly died due to a malfunctioning truck brake on the 'The Expendables 3' set. The 'Shirebrook' fighter was forced to jump from the wagon he was driving just before it fell 60 feet into the ocean. The car was submerged in 5 to 10 meters of water when he attempted to exit through an open window. When asked how the event had affected his life, he replied, "It’s a real recalibration of everything. From that day on, I’ve been so appreciative of life and being able to walk on the ground. I think we all need [an experience] like that; one that puts things in perspective," per The Standard.

7. Johnny Depp

Filming 'Lone Ranger' brought Johnny Depp dangerously close to meeting his creator. The 'Jack Sparrow' actor lost control of the horse he was riding at a full gallop and managed to escape by slipping under its feet during an extremely disastrous stunt. Not only was the famous actor fortunate enough to escape this ordeal alive, but he also did so without any injuries. Once, while traveling in a private jet with his 'Rum Diary' director Bruce Robinson, Depp thought his time had arrived. For a brief moment, the plane's engines failed, and the two started to prepare for the worst. However, the engines were rectified quickly, and Depp acknowledged that the incident helped to forge a special bond with Robinson.

8. Travis Barker

The Blink-182 drummer almost avoided a catastrophic plane disaster in 2008 that claimed the lives of four other passengers. Barker's injuries from the crash included severe third-degree burns and post-traumatic stress disorder. But the artist went back to the studio two months later. In his first television interview following the incident, Barker told MTV, "It was really exciting to know I still have my chops. It still felt good. I still can make it around the kit. Everything felt right, so I'm thankful to be able to play."

9. Emilia Clarke

The 'Game of Thrones' actress experienced two brain aneurysms in two years. Following his collapse during a workout at the gym in 2011, Clarke's condition was determined to be a subarachnoid hemorrhage. The actress recovered after spending a week in the intensive care unit. The actress had another aneurysm later in 2013, requiring an invasive procedure that kept her in the hospital for a month. Following her two near-fatal health scares, actress Clarke founded the nonprofit organization SameYou, which supports people recovering from brain injuries.

10. Demi Lovato

Singer and actress, Demi Lovato has never shied away from addressing her battles with addiction. Her YouTube Original docuseries 'Demi Lovato: Dancing With the Devil,' tells the story of the tragic night Lovato had a relapse in 2018. The singer overdosed on narcotics after six years of sobriety, and her assistant discovered her unconscious. Following her hospitalization, Lovato experienced three strokes and a heart attack from overdosing on heroin, which she claimed was laced with fentanyl. The 31-year-old claimed that she has felt "a lot of survivor guilt" ever since the incident, particularly when rapper Mac Miller died soon after, per 7News.