Samuel Johnson in tears as he shares emotional confession about near-fatal accident

Legendary Australian actor Samuel Johnson broke down in tears during a heartfelt TV appearance on Monday night.

Australian actor Samuel Johnson has endured numerous tragedies, with one in 2021 coming harrowingly close to ending his life.

When he and his partner Em pulled over on a dark night so he could answer the ‘call of nature’ behind a tree, Johnson was struck by a car.

In the moments that followed, Em kept him alive by holding his head together until the ambulance arrived.

Ground glass in his lungs; he had endured multiple fractures to his neck and skull; and doctors were clueless as to whether he would ever be himself again if he regained consciousness.

Actor Samuel Johnson teared up as he spoke about the accident that almost took his life. Picture: ABC

In a heartfelt new interview with Australian Stories, Johnson shared his surprising outlook on the night that everything he had ever built in his life was almost taken away within an instant.

“When I woke up. I couldn’t believe how much Em cared for me,” he told Australian Story as he broke down in tears. “I was just. I woke up and went ‘Wow, I’m not awful’. She really cares for me. And I just realised that I was all right and that I needed to make sure that I cared for her as well as she cared for me.”

“He realised he was deserving of love,” added Em. “He put the whip away and stopped being so hard on himself.”

What followed was seven weeks in hospital, followed by 18 months of painful rehab. But he was determined to return to his life and he put all his remaining strength into recovering.

“Even though I nearly died, a little knock on the head balanced everything out nicely,” he shared.

While he managed to get back on his feet, the impact of that fateful night still lives on in his body.

Johnson with his late sister Connie (centre) and his partner, Em (right). Picture: ABC

“I’ve got no sense of smell. My vestibular system, which controls my sense of space and my balance, is a bit wonky.

“When I get tired my behaviour starts to change — so if you interview me for too long, I’ll start talking funny. But apart from that, I’m all right.”

“A lot of people don’t come out of it, and a lot of people come out of it seriously compromised,” continued the actor.

“I’ve got no sense of smell. My vestibular system, which controls my sense of space and my balance, is a bit wonky.

“When I get tired my behaviour starts to change, so if you interview me for too long, I’ll start talking funny. But apart from that, I’m all right.”

Johnson has endured more tragedy than most, from losing his mother and a former partner to suicide, to losing his sister to cancer, and he admits that he’s sometimes leant on unhealthy ways of coping.

“The problem is that I really love alcohol. It’s fun. But I like it a little too much,” he confessed.

But as he’s understanding of his limits, and how crucial it is for him to remain as healthy as he feels nowadays.

“I’ve got a personal life I would never insult. And I’ve got a professional life I cannot jeopardise,” insisted the star, who has since dedicated his life to raising money for cancer research. “I’m not trying to paint a picture that’s not true. It’s just my life now. It’s like a rainbow life,” he said.

Originally published as Samuel Johnson in tears as he shares emotional confession about near-fatal accident