Levison Wood, the renowned TV explorer, is no stranger to danger.
However, his latest brush with death occurred while filming a new documentary in the heart of Venezuela’s rugged jungle.
The adventurer, who has traveled to over 120 countries and completed legendary expeditions like walking the length of the Nile and trekking across the Himalayas, found himself in a terrifying situation.
His vehicle veered off a narrow, treacherous road and flipped onto its side.
The Accident That Shook Him
In late November, Levison was traveling through Venezuela with his girlfriend, Ana Protasio, a Brazilian model and yoga instructor, and their young daughter, Maya.
But the crash happened when they weren’t in the vehicle.
Levison was alone with his film crew, including cameramen Neil and Alberto, on what would become the most dramatic stretch of his South American journey.
The crash happened while filming a three-part series where Levison would cover over 8,000 miles across seven countries.
The series would be his longest and most ambitious journey yet.
As the vehicle flipped, Levison sustained a fractured elbow, but what terrified him the most was the possibility of a fire breaking out due to the fuel onboard.
The Details of the Crash
Levison recalled the events leading up to the crash: “We’d been driving all day, and by the time we reached the small town of Mochima, it was already dark,” he said.
“I think the driver was a bit tired.
We were so close to where we needed to be, and I could feel the car slipping as we went over a small bridge.
There were no barriers, and it just went off the edge. I knew what was happening.”
In a horrifying moment, Levison had to scramble to escape.
With the car on its side and fuel in danger of catching fire, he managed to pull himself through the passenger door, terrified that the vehicle could explode at any moment.
“It was chaos,” Levison recalled. “I just had to get out before it went up in flames.”
Levison Wood’s Close Calls: A History of Survival
This wasn’t the first time Levison had escaped death while on an expedition.
Back in 2015, he was involved in another near-death experience in Nepal.
While traveling with his brother Pete, the taxi they were riding in plunged 150 feet off a mountain cliff, crashing into a jungle below.
Miraculously, the trio survived with only a few broken bones.
Reflecting on his recent accident, Levison noted the similarities and differences.
“This time, the drop was much smaller—maybe one or two meters.
But flipping over in a car is terrifying, no matter the height,” he said.
Thankfully, the crew was unharmed, and the team was able to continue their journey despite the shock and pain.
The Aftermath: A Fractured Elbow and an Indomitable Spirit
Despite his injuries, Levison didn’t let the accident halt his progress.
He revealed that his fractured elbow is still a painful reminder of the crash, and any pressure on it triggers intense agony. But, as he always does, Levison pressed on.
The next day, the crew got the car back on the road, and they continued their journey through Venezuela, which would soon take them to Brazil.
“There was no way we were letting this stop us,” Levison shared.
“We had a mission to complete, and this was just another obstacle to overcome.”
A New Chapter: Exploring Brazil and Confronting Illegal Loggers
With the crash behind them, the team arrived in Brazil, where they’re about to take on a new challenge: a police raid aimed at stopping illegal loggers.
As dangerous as his adventures are, Levison is used to pushing forward no matter what.
The journey through Venezuela was also marked by political tension, as the country grappled with the fallout from the U.S. targeting President Maduro.
Levison was keenly aware of the rising tensions, especially when airspace was closed in the days following the arrival of American naval forces.
“When we got there, there was this looming pressure, but to be honest, we couldn’t really sense it on the ground.
It just felt like something that was happening elsewhere,” he said.
A New Kind of Exploration
In many ways, this latest journey has proven to be more than just a physical expedition for Levison.
It has shown him how to face adversity, adapt to unexpected situations, and keep moving forward no matter the cost.
Through his travels, Levison continues to explore not just the physical world but the human spirit as well, proving that nothing—be it the harshest jungle or a flipped Jeep—can stop his unyielding drive to explore and discover.
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