Given a 1% Chance to Live – Matt Long’s Incredible Survival Story

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Feb 4, 2025

In this episode, Matt Long, a former firefighter and athlete, shares his harrowing journey of survival after a catastrophic bus accident left him with a 1% chance to live. He recounts the grueling rehabilitation process, enduring 43 surgeries, and battling both physical and mental challenges. Matt's story emphasizes the power of resilience, finding purpose in pain, and reclaiming dreams. His inspiring message encourages listeners to push through adversity, reminding us all that we are stronger than we think.

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ANECDOTE

Matt's Life Before the Accident

Matt Long was a New York City firefighter and athlete in peak physical condition.
He had just qualified for the Boston Marathon after completing the New York City Marathon.

ANECDOTE

The Accident

During a transit strike, Matt Long was hit by a bus while biking to work.
The impact was severe, causing life-threatening injuries and significant blood loss.

ANECDOTE

Immediate Aftermath

A police officer's quick action to stop the bleeding was crucial.
Matt was taken to a well-equipped hospital, which increased his survival chances.

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Would You Go Through Your Worst Pain Again?

Imagine facing an event so catastrophic that doctors give you a 1% chance to live. Now, imagine coming out the other side not only surviving but running a marathon just three years later. That’s the reality of today’s guest, Matt Long.

Matt was a firefighter, an athlete, and a man in peak physical condition when life threw him under the bus—literally. A tragic accident left him with devastating injuries, five months in the hospital, 43 surgeries, and a battle not just for his body but for his will to live. There were moments when he questioned if it was worth it, when the pain and uncertainty nearly broke him. But it was in those moments that he discovered something most people never will—what he was truly made of.

His story isn’t just about survival. It’s about rebuilding, redefining what’s possible, and finding purpose in the pain. Matt didn’t just fight his way back—he made his tragedy his testimony, using his experience to inspire others to keep pushing forward. Whether you’re facing loss, failure, or adversity, this conversation is a wake-up call that you are stronger than you think.

Matt shares the brutal truth about what it takes to fight through life’s hardest moments and how he found the strength to start dreaming again. And at the end of it all, when asked if he’d take the easy way out—if he’d let that bus miss him—his answer will leave you speechless.

Key Takeaways:

How Matt found purpose in his pain and why it changed his life.
The one conversation that reignited his will to live.
Why setting new goals—no matter how impossible—can change your mindset.
The real reason why your hardest moments might be the best thing to ever happen to you.
How to rebuild yourself when life hits you like a bus (literally or metaphorically).

You’re going to walk away from this one with a whole new perspective on what’s possible in your own life. If Matt can come back from this, what excuse do you have?

Let’s go. Max out.

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