Ernest Hemingway Didn’t Just Pen Some Of The Most Iconic American Titles, But He Also Survived Two Life-Threatening Plane Crashes Just One Day Apart
Ernest Hemingway was one of the most iconic American authors for his outstanding works of fiction from the 20th century.
Most people recognize his biggest titles like “The Old Man and The Sea” or “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” but besides what he wrote, Ernest also had a fascinating life story.
For instance, did you know he survived two life-threatening plane crashes just one day apart?
At the end of August, a letter from 1954 written by Ernest to his lawyer Alfred Rice describing his horrible injuries and condition after surviving the two plane crashes with his wife Mary Welsh was sold at auction for $237,055.
The letter and auction have had everyone reminiscing on the story of the tumultuous plane crashes, and if you didn’t know about them, this is a glimpse of what went down.
In January 1954, while Ernest was 54 years old, he and his wife Mary took a sightseeing plane tour of the Belgian Congo in Africa, which was his Christmas gift to her. While flying near the Murchison Falls, the plane struck a telegraph wire and crash-landed near crocodile-infested waters.
Ernest, Mary, and the pilot had to manage their injuries themselves and camp in the wilderness overnight until a tourist boat found them the next morning. The boat took them to a nearby town, where they boarded a second plane they hoped would take them to safety.
However, shortly after the second plane took off, it exploded, crashed, and caught fire. This is the flight where Ernest suffered the most injuries, as the pilot was able to kick open one of the plane’s windows and quickly escape with Mary, while Ernest was too big to fit through the frame.
Ernest had to force the plane door open with his head, and once he was finally out, he had horribly intense injuries, including a skull fracture, third-degree burns on his arm that would affect his writing, and injuries to his liver, kidney, and spleen.
Who is Danny – stock.adobe.com- illustrative purposes only
Thankfully, everyone was rescued not long after the second crash, and Ernest approached reporters proudly holding a bunch of fresh bananas and a bottle of gin.
In the letters written to his lawyer three months after the crash, Ernest was able to write about the crash using a sort of comedic tone, noting that he was being a “good boy” and getting lots of rest.
It was also revealed that Mary suffered from memory loss after the crash and broke several ribs.
Ernest’s injuries following the horrific crashes would affect him for the rest of his life, with some believing that his concussions from the crashes may have played a part in him taking his life in 1961.
However, he somehow managed to write to his lawyer optimistically, as it was miraculous that he survived these crashes and went on to win the Nobel Prize in Literature a few months later, in October 1954.
Have you heard about Ernest’s intense story of survival?
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