Ernest Hemingway survived two plane crashes in two days (1954), suffering a ruptured kidney, ruptured spleen, ruptured liver, crushed vertebra, and fractured skull. He also contracted anthrax and amoebic dysentery during his travels, and suffered from high blood pressure and liver disease later in life.
Hemingway's Unbelievable Survival Story
Ernest Hemingway didn't just write about danger—he lived it. The legendary author survived medical catastrophes that would have killed most people several times over, cementing his reputation as one of the most physically resilient literary figures in history.
Two Crashes, 48 Hours
In January 1954, while on an African safari with his wife Mary, Hemingway experienced what can only be described as a nightmare scenario. Their sightseeing plane clipped a telegraph wire and crashed onto the crocodile-infested shores of the Nile River. Both survived with injuries—Hemingway's back and shoulder were hurt, while Mary suffered broken ribs.
The next day, their rescue plane crashed on takeoff and burst into flames. The pilot escaped through a window, but Hemingway was too large to fit. His solution? He used his head—literally—to bash open the jammed door. This gave him a fractured skull and severe concussion, with cerebral fluid leaking from the injury.
The Damage Report
Months later, Mary revealed the full extent of her husband's injuries to friends: two cracked spinal discs, a ruptured kidney, a ruptured liver, a ruptured spleen, a dislocated shoulder, and a broken skull. In a letter to his lawyer, Hemingway described massive internal bleeding from the organ damage.
These weren't his only close calls. During his honeymoon, he contracted anthrax. On his 1933 African safari, he developed severe amoebic dysentery that caused a prolapsed intestine, requiring emergency evacuation to Nairobi by plane.
Later in life, Hemingway battled high blood pressure and liver disease. The cumulative effect of at least nine major concussions throughout his life took a devastating toll on his cognitive function.
The Price of Survival
"It was after the second plane crash where his cognition was not the same," noted one researcher. "His memory was worse. His headaches were persistent." The 1954 crashes marked a turning point—Hemingway's physical and mental deterioration accelerated in the years that followed.
For a man who built his legend on physical courage and endurance, the gradual breakdown of his body and mind was particularly cruel. He lived with constant pain and declining health until his death in 1961.
Hemingway's survival story isn't just about toughness—it's about the heavy price of adventure. He didn't just survive these ordeals; he carried their scars for the rest of his life, a living testament to both human resilience and human fragility.