Copyright Parade
Actress and game show host Brooke Burns is honoring the 20th anniversary of her near-fatal accident by reflecting on her remarkable journey. Burns, 47, skyrocketed to fame in the ’90s in Baywatch and Baywatch: Hawaii, and went on to host NBC’s Dog Eat Dog. She also starred in the WB series Pepper Dennis and was married to Nip/Tuck star Julian McMahon. But her whole world came crashing down on the night she dove into her swimming pool and broke her neck. Burns reflected on the accident in an Instagram post on Nov. 11, the 20th anniversary of when it occurred. “20 years ago today, I dove into my own swimming pool and broke my neck. I still vascillate between struggling with survivor’s guilt because I can walk, and a deep sense of gratitude for how lucky I am to be alive,” Burns shares with the camera. She goes on to share underwater photographs taken over the last ten years in the very same pool where her accident happened. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox The Dive That Nearly Killed Her Burns had her board anchored in her pool so she could stand-up paddle like she always did without having to drive to the ocean. She dove in, but misjudged the depth. “Crack,” Burns recalled. “The top of my head collided with the bottom of my pool. It was like lightning shot through my spine. The pain, excruciating. A chin-to-chest paralyzing break. My body went limp. This is it. My life is over. I knocked on death’s door.” Burns went on to have an out-of-body experience, in which she was surrounded “by perfect love.” Asked if she wanted to stay or go back, she thought of her young daughter and made it clear she wanted to live. Her Hopes for Others Who Are Struggling Burns concluded by saying that she hopes anyone who is currently struggling through a difficult time keeps fighting. “If you woke up with breath this morning, God still has a plan for your life. Let him turn your pain into your purpose,” she concluded. “God bless.” Burns triumphed in the wake of her injury. She went on to star in the remake of Melrose Place, and currently hosts the game show Tic-Tac-Dough. She has two children.
