5 Athletes Who Have Overcome Life-Threatening Injuries

Richard Zednik

In a freak accident during an NHL game last February, Florida Panthers player Richard Zednik lost an astounding amount of blood when his throat was accidentally cut by a teammate’s skate.

Doctors were able to repair his slashed carotid artery. While he was discharged a week later, Zednik did not return to ice hockey until the 2008-2009 season.

Bethany Hamilton

Professional surfer Bethany Hamilton hopped on a board at age four and began winning her first surf competitions at age eight. By 13, Hamilton’s success was attracting major sponsors like Rip Curl.

In 2003, a shark attacked Hamilton during a practice surf session, leaving her without a left arm and hemorrhaging blood. Just weeks after the attack, she was back in the ocean, riding the waves.

In addition to winning competitions, Hamilton is also a published author. Her book, Soul Surfer, was adapted into a feature film by Dolphin Entertainment.

A.J. Foyt

“Tough” doesn’t even begin to describe professional race car driver A.J. Foyt.

In 1965, he broke his back due to brake failure. In 1972, he was set on fire when a broken hose sprayed two gallons of fuel onto his head. In 1990, he broke his left knee, dislocated his left tibia, crushed his left heel, and dislocated his right heel after another brake failure.

After the 1990 accident, many assumed the severity of Foyt’s injuries would encourage the then 55-year-old driver toward retirement, but he put himself through a grueling physical therapy regimen to race again in 1991 and 1992.

Throughout his amazing career, Foyt won nine 500-mile races and seven Indy-car national races. He is the only driver to win the Indy 500, the Daytona 500, and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Phil Packer

Dragged under a vehicle during a rocket attack in Iraq, Major Phil Packer of the U.K.’s Royal Military Police lost the use of both his legs. That didn’t stop him from rowing the English Channel or completing a marathon.

After the accident left him paralyzed from the waist down, Packer, 36, spent a year in rehabilitation. Last March, he took his first steps. In May, he successfully walked the London Marathon. Currently, Packer has his sights on climbing California’s El Capitan mountain.

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For more stories of survival against all odds, check out Eight Incredible Survival Stories in Brave New Traveler.