Avengers star critical after snow plough runs over leg

US actor Jeremy Renner has extensive injuries after a snow plough ran over one of his legs.

Renner suffered significant blood loss in the incident on Sunday in Nevada, with a doctor who lives nearby applying a tourniquet before the actor was airlifted to a hospital, a neighbour told TMZ on Monday.

The details come a day after a representative for Renner, 51, confirmed he was hospitalised in “critical but stable condition” following an “accident while ploughing snow”.

“His family is with him and he is receiving excellent care,” the spokesperson said.

The incident reportedly occurred while Renner, who plays the superhero Hawkeye in the Marvel films and shows, was using a Snowcat ploughing machine to clear a road near his family’s home after a snowstorm.

He is said to have suffered additional injuries beyond his leg, according to TMZ, which posted a video of Renner being airlifted.

Emergency officials responded on Sunday to Renner’s home near Mount Rose Highway in Reno and arranged for him to be taken to a nearby hospital by care flight, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office said, describing the injury as “traumatic”.

“Mr Renner was the only involved party,” a sheriff’s office representative said.

“The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Major Accident Investigation Team is currently looking into the circumstances of the incident.”

Washoe County is about 200 kilometres north of Reno.

In recent years, Renner has shared multiple Instagram videos showing him operating snow ploughs.

It came as dozens of people were killed across the US amid blizzard conditions.

The Arctic blast stirred up heavy winds and snow, trapping some residents inside their houses with snowdrifts and knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses.

The scope of the storm has been nearly unprecedented, stretching from the Great Lakes near Canada down to the Rio Grande along the border with Mexico.

Renner previously tweeted about the snow at his US ranch in December, writing: “Lake Tahoe snowfall is no joke.”

The California-born Renner debuted as Hawkeye, the archer Avenger, in the 2011 film Thor. The hero is the central character in the 2021 Disney+ series Hawkeye, which Renner stars in with Hailee Steinfeld.

Renner is also known for roles in multiple Mission: Impossible movies and in The Bourne Legacy.

He earned Oscar nominations for The Hurt Locker and The Town, and the second season of his thriller series Mayor of Kingstown premieres January 15.

The actor previously broke both arms while performing a stunt for the 2018 comedy movie Tag.

– with PA