Savage Garden’s Darren Hayes Says ‘Terrible Accident’ Left His Jaw Broken : ‘I Could Have Died’

Truly madly scary. Savage Garden‘s Darren Hayes revealed on Friday (April 18) that he recently suffered a serious injury after fainting that could’ve ended tragically.

“On March 17, 2 months to the day after my Mother passed away, I had a terrible accident … I lost consciousness – I fainted shortly after getting out of bed and collapsed 3 times, losing consciousness each time,” he revealed in an Instagram post. “The blunt force trauma was so severe it snapped my left jawbone in half.”

The Australian artist went on to share that he woke up in a pool of blood and had nine teeth shattered, and was taken to an ER in Santa Monica, Calif. “I could have died if I landed in a different position,” Hayes wrote.

The musician went on to share that his medical team ruled out any neurological and heart issues, and that he had been feeling lightheaded and experienced fainting spells for some time before his accident; doctors are still investigating for causes to his health struggles. Hayes — who noted that he doesn’t drink or do drugs — had reconstructive surgery on March 21, which included having a titanium brace inserted to reconnect his jaw bones, as well as having his mouth wired shut for at least eight weeks.

“I just wanted my fans to know why I’ll be out of action for quite some time. After my jaw heals it’s a long road to rehabbing my jaw function and then of course replacing my shattered teeth. I’m so grateful to be alive and every day I’m getting stronger. I’m almost one month post surgery now and I’m only just starting to feel better,” the singer wrote before thanking his medical team and loved ones. “After surviving a brutal divorce, losing my Mother, finding out my father died and then this I have had moments of deep sadness. But I am a survivor and I’ll come back strong.”

Along with his message updating fans about what he has been experiencing, Hayes shared a photo of himself with one side of his face badly swollen, and a yellow bruise at the base of his neck. A second image was an X-ray of his jaw with the titanium brace holding the broken pieces together.

At the height of Savage Garden’s popularity, the duo of Hayes and Daniel Jones snagged two Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s with 1998’s “Truly Madly Deeply” and 1999’s “I Knew I Loved You,” while “I Want You” peaked at No. 4 in 1997. The pair’s self-titled debut album — which houses “Truly Madly Deeply” and “I Want You” — peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, while sophomore and final release Affirmation, which houses “I Knew I Loved You,” reached No. 6. The group split up in 2001.