Olympic hero Gary Hall Jr survived a shark attack and hurricanes... then came a terrifying escape from LA fires
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Gary Hall Jr is praying to find a puddle. It’s the best he can hope for, a week after the retired swimmer glanced up at the hills above Pacific Palisades and spotted a plume of smoke. An alert pinged on his phone around 10 minutes later. There was a fire, and evacuations were underway, the message read. It was a bit late.
![[The area of Pacific Palisades has been devastated by deadly wildfires over recent days]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/16/16/94173723-0-image-a-1_1737043868091.jpg)
Hall had already watched a ‘wall’ of flames tumble towards his house. He had already grabbed his dog and dodged the falling embers to reach his car. He had already begun to drive through the ‘apocalypse’ engulfing Los Angeles. 'People were pulling up on the sidewalks, trying to drive around other cars, blowing through stop signs and red lights. It was terror, absolute terror in the faces. Desperation,' he says.
![[In heartbreaking footage, Hall shared a video of the site where his house once stood]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/12/94209265-14292917-image-a-2_1737117157220.jpg)
‘The black smoke was so thick that they couldn't even see the mirrors on the side of their car.’ Other people fled on foot. ‘They didn't know if they were running toward or away from the flames.' Those flames razed his home and stole almost all he had worked for.
![[‘I'm questioning God's intentions at this point,’ the former Olympic swimmer told Mail Sport]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/16/20/94174279-14292917-image-m-25_1737058499079.jpg)
He had only three minutes to escape – time enough to grab a painting of his grandfather, a gift from his daughter, and his pooch. But the 50-year-old was forced to flee before he could grab the 10 Olympic medals he won between 1996 and 2004. He has vowed to head back to Pacific Palisades armed with a shovel and the spirit of the 49ers.
![[Hall won ten Olympic medals - including two gold and two silver at the Atlanta games in 1996]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/16/16/94056859-14292917-Hall_won_ten_Olympic_medals_including_two_gold_and_two_silver_at-a-8_1737044170251.jpg)
