Mariska Hargitay Injured Significantly During Law & Order Stunt
Mariska Hargitay, the star of NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” has had her share of injuries over the years. While preparing for the show’s 23rd season in 2021, she suffered an ankle injury due to a personal accident. However, her most significant setback occurred during a stunt on set.
Significant On-Set Injury
In the fall of 2008, Hargitay experienced a near-fatal injury while performing a stunt. While chasing a character portrayed as a criminal, she jumped and landed incorrectly on the second take. This miscalculation resulted in a collapsed lung, a rare condition that occurs in only one out of every 1,000 people.
Hargitay recalled the incident in an interview with Redbook. Initially, she believed she had only pulled a muscle. “I got up and felt that something inside was not quite right,” she noted. Despite her instinct, she chose to ignore the injury, hoping it would heal on its own.
Long Recovery Process
Months later, Hargitay underwent surgery to address the collapsed lung. She resumed filming in March 2009, only to face another collapse shortly after her return. This series of events prompted her to reconsider her approach to performing stunts.
Lessons Learned
The experience was transformative for Hargitay. At that time, she had recently become a mother, which deepened her understanding of life’s fragility. “I realized how finite life can be,” she shared. As a result, she made the decision to allow stunt performers to execute dangerous action sequences in the future.
- Chased a criminal during a stunt
- Collapsed lung statistic: 1 in 1,000 people
- Returned to work after surgery in March 2009
Despite the struggles, Hargitay found positivity in her experience. She expressed gratitude, stating that such challenges teach valuable lessons and foster a deeper appreciation for life. “I feel like the luckiest person in the world,” she concluded.
