Hank Williams Jr. celebrates 48 years since his near-fatal accident, feeling incredibly blessed.
Country Legend Hank Williams Jr. Reflects on Near-Fatal Accident
Country legend Hank Williams Jr. recently marked the 48th anniversary of his near-fatal accident in the 1970s, expressing how “very blessed” and thankful he is to still be alive.
The 74-year-old country singer captured everyone’s attention on Tuesday when he shared an aerial picture on Twitter of the exact location where he almost lost his life. It was on a mountain in southwestern Montana, where he fell more than 500 feet while hiking with a friend on August 8, 1975.
“48 years ago today, 530 feet and 17 operations later, this picture says it all,” Williams Jr. tweeted to his hundreds of thousands of followers. The post showcased the spot where he fell and landed.
48 years ago today, 530 feet and 17 operations later, this picture says it all. I am a very blessed and thankful man. HWJR pic.twitter.com/yU8nY70a5s
— Hank Williams, Jr. (@HankJr) August 8, 2023
“I am a very blessed and thankful man. HWJR,” he added.
The incident occurred when Williams Jr. and his friend, Dick Willey, went hiking near Ajax Lake, close to the Idaho border. The peak they were exploring stands at 10,000 feet, and they encountered a snow-covered field. As they attempted to cross, Williams Jr. stepped on unstable snow, causing him to plummet 500 feet down the mountain.
In his autobiography, “Living Proof: The Hank Williams Story,” Williams Jr. vividly recalled the aftermath of the fall. He touched his face and felt it crushed, realizing that a boulder had fractured his skull, leaving part of his brain exposed.
“I put my hands up to feel my nose,” Williams Jr. wrote. “Where my nose should be, there’s nothing there. My teeth and parts of my jaw fall out in my hand.”
“I raise my hand to my forehead, and where my forehead should be, there’s something soft and squishy,” he added. “That’s my brain, I think.”
After Willey found him, the country star was airlifted to Missoula Community Hospital. He underwent a seven-hour surgery to stabilize his condition. As Hank himself tweeted, he survived and persevered through 17 operations, defying the odds and continuing to share his incredible story.
Related: Country Legend Hank Williams Jr. Mourning Loss Of Wife Of More Than Thirty Years
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