Dean Gunnarson faced a terror last week that made all stunts he has performed pale in comparison. The van in which Gunnarson was traveling flipped over twice on Hwy. 60 while en route to a show in Flin Flon. Passerby pulled an unconscious Gunnarson and his brother from the wreck. Doctors had to amputate two fingers of his right hand.
Terror Real, No Illusion
He's been chained to bombs, submerged in water and dropped from a plane.
But for escape artist Dean Gunnarson nothing can compare to the terror he faced last week after a horrific accident nearly cost him his life.
Doctors amputated the middle and ring fingers of Gunnarson's right hand after the van in which the 31-year-old performer was traveling crashed about 64 kilometres south of The Pas last Friday.
Gunnarson's scalp was split and one of his ribs was broken.
Brother Todd, 25, who was driving the vehicle on the way to a show in
Flin Flon, was also injured. He suffered a broken arm, a severe concussion
and has temporarily lost his hearing in one ear.
"I don't look very good and I don't feet very good," a heavily sedated Gunnarson said yesterday from his mother's Winnipeg home. An air ambulance brought Gunnarson and his brother to Winnipeg from The Pas on Saturday, and they spent several days at the Health Sciences Centre before being released.
Gunnarson, who honed his trade of death-defying stunts and amazing escapes in the 'Peg before gaining international fame, said the loss of his two fingers will definitely affect his career, but not necessarily in a negative way.
"It's difficult right now, but in the long run it will probably make me a better performer," said the soft-spoken Gunnarson, adding he will learn to work with his left hand. "You have to look at the positive aspects of things, not the negative."
Gunnarson and The Pas RCMP still aren't sure what caused the van to flip over twice on Hwy. 60 shortly after 4 p.m., but police said there were no drugs or alcohol Involved. Gunnarson, who had been asleep, awoke just in time to see the van begin to roll.
He was knocked unconscious by the crash and awoke only after several passersby had pulled the two brothers from the wreck.
Gunnarson was amazed at the way witnesses helped the pair out.
"So many people went above and beyond the call of duty," he said, adding he would love to do a show for the friendly folks one day.
Gunnarson had just completed a successful tour of Asia and South America. He hopes to recover in time to embark on a six-month tour in Europe this fall.
But he's learned not to take anything for granted.
"I've always been a person who's appreciated life, but you just never know when it could be taken away."