Brooke Burns Talks About Near Fatal Swimming Accident  12/19/05

ACTRESS BROOKE BURNS TALKS FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT HER NEAR-FATAL SWIMMING ACCIDENT

Burns: "If I Had Been Alone, I Would Probably Be Dead"

SHOW AIRS ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2005

BURBANK, Calif. - December 19, 2005 - In an interview with "Access Hollywood's" Billy Bush, actress Brooke Burns talks for the first time about her near-fatal swimming accident. The interview airs on "Access Hollywood," Monday, December 19, 2005 (check local listings for time and station).

"I broke my neck, it's a classic neck break from chin to chest," Burns said of a swimming accident that occurred at her home on November 10th. "If I had been alone, I would probably be dead."

The actress credits a friend, who is also in the medical profession, for preventing the accident from causing even further damage. "I had a friend there who was literally supposed to drop me off, and decided to come in and use the restroom," she said. "He is the only paramedic fireman that I know. He saw me dive in, and he wrapped a wet towel around my neck and basically immobilized me and floated me in the pool until the paramedics came, so he saved my life. If I had been with anyone else that tried to move me, I would be at least half paralyzed if not completely paraplegic."

Burns says that the one positive thing that has come from her accident is a stronger friendship with ex-husband and "Nip/Tuck" actor Julian McMahon, with whom she shares a 5-year-old daughter. "I think he was the first one at the hospital," she said. "He just really came through for me, and we really had a great talk. Family is family, and a piece of paper means nothing...that is what we kind of came down to."

When Bush asked the former "Baywatch" star if she felt like she had a new lease on life, she replied, "I am starting over, I do feel like that. I've been praying a lot lately...thank you God that I am alive and can put my arms around my baby girl."

"Access Hollywood" is produced by NBC and distributed by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution. Rob K. Silverstein is the executive producer.

Source: Access Hollywood Press Release