10 Times Grey’s Anatomy Characters Cheated Death
Grey’s Anatomy is known for it’s heartbreaking episodes, but sometimes characters survive these traumas and fight another day at the hospital.
Grey’s Anatomy is famous for its emotional episodes, and the number of times its characters have been able to cheat death. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), the protagonist, is well known for her ability to be inches from death and still get away. The characters on Grey’s Anatomy have gone through significant trauma throughout the series’ long run, and have witnessed many of their loved ones coming close to death, or passing on themselves.
Running for 19 seasons since its premiere in 2005, Grey’s Anatomy has never been afraid to push its characters, and audience, to the limit. Many episodes of the show have become infamous for the extreme events the doctors go through, like a plane crash and a shooter in the hospital. Though character deaths stand out, it’s just as thrilling when their fate is uncertain, and they make it. A beloved character remaining on the show is always cause for celebration.
10.April Almost Drowns
Season 14, Episode 23, “Cold as Ice”
April Kepner (Sarah Drew) was introduced in season 6 of the show and was initially a divisive personality among the doctors. However, during its run, April was established as a key figure in the hospital, especially to Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams), who became her husband. In the episode, “Cold as Ice”, April accidentally falls into a ravine and almost drowns before being found by the doctors. It causes quite a stir at the hospital, but eventually, April’s pulse is found, and she is revived.
9.Burke Is Shot
Season 2, Episode 25, “17 Seconds”
Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington) was an excellent character during the early seasons of Grey’s Anatomy. His relationship with Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) is tumultuous, but when he is shot in the episode, “17 Seconds”, it reaffirms their bond. Losing Burke in season 2 of the series would have been heartbreaking, and his incapacitation in this episode was especially nerve-wracking because the life of patient Denny (Jeffery Dean Morgan) was on the line. At this point, it seemed that Denny and Izzie were soulmates, and she would do anything to save him. Even though Burke made it through his trauma, Denny ended up passing on.
8.Meredith Nearly Dies Of Covid
Season 17, Episode 6, “No Time For Despair”
In Grey’s Anatomy, Meredith almost died the most out of all the people in the show, but she is also one of the longest-running characters. This means she has undergone almost every traumatic event that the series has showcased. In more recent seasons, Grey’s Anatomy touched upon the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Meredith contracts the virus. For much of season 17, she was in limbo, and it was touch and go and whether she would make it. In the end, she survives and lives to fight another day at Grey Sloan Memorial.
7.Alex Is Shot
Season 6, Episode 23, “Sanctuary”
In the fateful episode “Sanctuary”, Alex is not the only victim of violence. Considered one of the best, and most tragic, episodes of the series, “Sanctuary” follows the events of a shooter taking control of the hospital. While Alex and others are not involved in the shooter’s plan, he still gets caught in the crossfire. In the first of the two-part season finale, Alex is wounded and with the doctors scattered and hiding throughout the hospital, it is unclear if he’ll get the treatment he needs. While Alex does make it, many other lives are lost in this episode.
6.Callie’s Car Crash
Season 7, Episode 18, “Song Beneath The Song”
In the musical episode of the series, “Song Beneath The Song”, a pregnant Callie (Sara Ramirez) fights for her life after a car crash. Utilizing Ramirez’s talents as a singer, Callie watches as the doctors do everything they can to revive her. Just before the crash, Callie’s girlfriend, Arizona (Jessica Capshaw), proposes to her and spends the episode at Callie’s bedside along with Mark Sloan (Eric Dane), the father of Callie’s baby. The baby is delivered prematurely, but in the end, both Callie and her child live. Additionally, Callie and Arizona’s relationship continues when Callie accepts her proposal.
5.Izzie Signs A DNR
Season 5, Episode 24, “Now or Never”
Izzie (Katherine Heigl) has difficulty finding her place at the hospital after Denny’s death in season 2. Later, she starts up a relationship with Alex (Justin Chambers) but begins having hallucinations and discovers she has a brain tumor in season 5. Her battle with cancer goes on throughout the season and culminates in the episode “Now or Never”. Izzie has an operation to remove the tumor and signs at DNR beforehand. After surgery, her heart stops, and it is unclear if she makes it until season 6 when it’s revealed she’s alive. Unfortunately, it is also in this episode that George (T. R. Knight) passes away.
4.The Plane Crash Survivors
Season 8, Episode 24, “Flight”
“Flight”, sees the loss of several characters, and changes the lives of everyone involved. Meredith, Christina, Derek, and Arizona live, but others do not. Meredith’s younger sister, Lexi (Chyler Leigh), dies from her injuries. Her past boyfriend, Mark Sloan, is also in the crash, but he initially survives and is brought back to the hospital with the others. A devastating conclusion to Mark and Lexi’s relationship. For a while, it seemed he was going to make it, but in season 9, episode 2, “Remember The Time”, he dies. Although his first escape from death was hopeful, Mark’s sendoff felt like a good ending for the character.
3.Meredith Drowns (s3 ep16)
Season 3, Episode 16, “Drowning On Dry Land”
By season 3 of Grey’s Anatomy, Meredith is struggling with feelings of depression. In the episode, the doctors are called to a triage near the ocean. This is when Meredith falls into the water and cannot stop herself from being dragged under. When she is found by Derek (Patrick Dempsey), he does everything to save her. Once she is transported back to the hospital, everyone joins in on the attempt. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, but Meredith’s fate is revealed in the following episode where she lives.
2.Meredith Grabs The Bomb
Season 2, Episode 16, “It’s The End Of The World
When a patient is admitted to the hospital, and it’s discovered that there is a bomb in their chest, Meredith reaches in and grabs it. The bomb squad is called in and talks Meredith through safely removing the bomb. This two-part episode arc is concluded in the following episode, “As We Know It”, and while Meredith successfully removes the bomb and lives, it does end up exploding and killing a member of the bomb squad. Meredith is hit by a small part of the explosion but is relatively unharmed. Watching Meredith transform over the years on Grey’s Anatomy after this, shows how much progress she makes.
1.Derek’s Operation
Season 6, Episode 24, “Death And All His Friends”
In the season 6 episode, “Sanctuary”, it is Derek who the shooter is looking for. Derek is shot in “Sanctuary”, but in the season 6 finale of Grey’s Anatomy, “Death And All His Friends”, his life hangs in the balance. Cristina begins operating on him, but the shooter finds them and forces her to let Derek die at gunpoint. It seems as though Derek is dead, and Meredith is devastated. However, Cristina tricked the shooter into thinking Derek had flat-lined by removing the wires that were tracking his pulse. Once the shooter is gone, Cristina finishes the procedure and saves Derek’s life.