Jorma Taccone Recounts Terrifying 20-Foot Ladder Fall and Severe Injuries

Former Saturday Night Live cast member Jorma Taccone is recuperating from numerous injuries sustained in a 20-foot ladder fall.

“I sensed it yielding, like it was starting to collapse, and I thought, ‘Oh no.’ In that instant, my entire life replayed before my eyes,” Taccone, age 48, recounted during the September 2nd broadcast of the “Lonely Island and Seth Meyers” podcast. “And I realized, ‘Oh no, I need to get off this ladder.’ As I was plummeting, I had just enough time to think, ‘I’m going to perish.’ I fell, I glanced over, I saw the ground, and I knew, ‘This is going to be incredibly painful.’”

Taccone, known as a part of the Lonely Island trio with Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaffer, disclosed that he impacted the ground on his rear and immediately experienced a “numb” sensation.

“I struck the surface. I became entangled with the ladder. I understood that something was seriously wrong,” he elaborated. “I proceeded to the hospital. It was discovered that I had severely fractured my pelvis on the left side. My sacrum had become separated from my spinal column. Incidentally, these descriptions sound more dire than the reality.”

Upon hearing about his accident, Samberg, Schaffer, and Meyers expressed that they were “extremely concerned” for Taccone. Despite enduring significant pain from his injuries, Taccone admitted feeling fortunate that the outcome wasn't more severe.

“It feels peculiar to state, but I am incredibly fortunate,” he remarked. “The most astonishing revelation was when my doctor arrived this morning and stated, ‘Oh yes, if you had landed on your heels … that situation would have been ten times graver.’”

Continue reading for comprehensive details regarding Taccone’s frightening incident:

When Was Jorma Taccone’s Accident?

Taccone disclosed that the incident took place on Sunday, August 31st, coinciding with his daughter’s birthday celebration.

What Was Jorma Taccone Engaged In Prior to the Accident?

Taccone was undertaking a domestic renovation task. A summer objective of his was to paint a “large mural” at the pinnacle of his Connecticut residence’s barn. Besides the mural, Taccone intended to install lights at the peak, standing at around “25 feet” in height.

The comedian mentioned he had borrowed an extension ladder from a neighbor, who cautioned him about its less-than-ideal state.

His spouse, Marielle Heller, inquired if the undertaking truly required immediate completion, but Taccone expressed that it would appear “quite appealing” and continued with the work.

How Did Jorma Taccone Experience the Ladder Fall?

Taccone had a companion assisting him with the endeavor due to the ladder’s instability. During a moment, his friend went indoors for a beverage, and Taccone opted to continue working.

"I'm nearing completion; I’ve finished the majority of the [barn]. When this occurs, I'm likely 20 feet from the earth on this extremely unstable ladder, positioned diagonally,” he recounted. “The supports are unsound, the foundation of the ladder is inadequate."

The ladder subsequently failed, causing Taccone to impact the ground on his posterior.

“I dropped directly onto my backside, absorbing the full force of the impact there. Afterward, I engaged in considerable yelling and expletives,” he pondered. “Bear in mind, it was my daughter’s 5th birthday celebration, so it wasn’t the most pleasant beginning to the day. I exclaimed, ‘Summon an ambulance!’"

Was Jorma Taccone Admitted to the Hospital?

Following the fall, Taccone recognized a problem as he experienced a “somewhat numb” sensation. He promptly sought medical attention at the hospital.

What Injuries Did Jorma Taccone Sustain?

Taccone visited the hospital, discovering he had severely fractured his left-side pelvis, dislodged his sacrum from his spinal column, broken his L5 lumbar vertebra, and now suffers from a damaged disc.

What Is Jorma Taccone’s Recovery Process?

Taccone is still hospitalized and conducted the podcast recording from his bed. He has already had one surgical procedure and requires a subsequent operation at a future time.

"I fractured my L5 lumbar … and so forth. A disc is now compromised, so it needs to be removed. Scheduling the operation is taking time because they aim to address both the anterior and posterior sections," he conveyed.

Physicians informed Taccone that his recuperation period could span three to six months, with walking expected around the six-month point. He will also require "intensive rehabilitation" for a complete recovery.