Julie Banderas Injury: Full Details of the Horrific 2024 Golf Cart Accident, Surgeries, and Ongoing Recovery

Julie Banderas Injury, the veteran Fox News anchor known for her no-nonsense reporting and weekend hosting duties, suffered one of the most gruesome injuries ever publicly shared by a television journalist when a golf cart ran over her right foot in June 2024. The accident crushed multiple bones, tore ligaments, and required multiple surgeries with permanent hardware. What started as a relaxing family vacation turned into a months-long nightmare of excruciating pain, mobility issues, and emotional turmoil for the 46-year-old mother of three.

Exact Timeline of the Accident

According to Julie Banderas Injury own detailed Instagram and X posts, the incident occurred on June 29, 2024, at The Breakers Palm Beach resort in Florida. She was riding in a golf cart driven by her husband, Andrew Sansone, with their three children—Addison, Avery, and Anderson—also in the cart.

While making a sharp turn, Julie’s right foot slipped off the cart and dangled just inches above the ground. Another golf cart, driven by a resort guest, came from the opposite direction and ran directly over her foot at full speed. The tire completely crushed her foot, pinning it against the pavement.

Julie wrote on Instagram on July 4, 2024:
“My foot was run over by a golf cart. The tire went completely over it. I heard the crunch. I felt the crunch. I saw the blood pouring out of my flip-flop.”

She immediately knew it was catastrophic. Photos she later posted show her foot swollen to nearly double its size, purple-black bruising from toes to ankle, and blood soaking through her sandal.

The Devastating Injuries Revealed by X-Rays

Julie Banderas Injury shared actual X-rays that are genuinely difficult to look at. The images show:

• Comminuted fractures of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsals (completely shattered into multiple fragments)
• Lisfranc injury (dislocation/separation of the midfoot joints)
• Severely displaced cuboid bone
• Multiple torn ligaments
• Crush injury to soft tissue with significant risk of compartment syndrome

Orthopedic surgeons told her that without immediate surgery she could have lost the foot entirely due to loss of blood supply and nerve damage.

Emergency Surgery and Permanent Hardware

On July 4, 2024—exactly five days after the accident—Julie underwent a four-hour reconstructive surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Surgeons installed:

• Two permanent titanium plates
• Nine screws
• Multiple pins and wires

She posted a photo of herself in the hospital bed giving a thumbs-up with the caption: “Foot rebuilt. 9 screws, 2 plates later… thank God for Dr. O’Malley and his incredible team.”

A second surgery was required in August 2024 to remove some temporary hardware and address infection concerns that had developed in the wound.

Brutal Recovery Reality – Julie Didn’t Sugarcoat It

Unlike many celebrities who downplay injuries, Julie has been unflinchingly honest about how bad it actually was:

• First 8 weeks non-weight-bearing on a knee scooter
• Constant nerve pain described as “electric shocks” and “burning”
• Multiple infections requiring antibiotics
• Physical therapy 4–5 days a week
• Could not wear a regular shoe until November 2024 (five months post-accident)
• Still cannot run or wear high heels as of early 2025
• Permanent numbness in parts of her foot and two toes
• Visible scarring and deformity (her foot is noticeably wider and shorter than the left)

In a December 2024 Instagram update she wrote:
“I’m at 7 months and still have pain every single day. Some days are worse than others. I’m told the nerve pain can last 2 years or longer. This injury is no joke.”

Impact on Her Career at Fox News

Julie continued to anchor weekend shows throughout the summer and fall of 2024, but viewers noticed significant changes:

• Appeared on air seated the entire time (normally she stands)
• Frequently wore a walking boot or large orthopedic shoe
• Visibly wincing in pain during some broadcasts
• Missed several weekends entirely for surgeries and recovery

In August 2024 she told “Fox & Friends Weekend” co-hosts on air:
“I’m in so much pain right now I can barely think straight… but the show must go on.”

Current Status – February 2025 Update

As of her most recent update in late January 2025, Julie reports:

• Finally walking without the boot about 80% of the time
• Still doing intense physical therapy
• Chronic nerve pain continues, especially at night
• Has returned to wearing regular shoes but only flat, wide styles
• Doctors say she will have permanent arthritis and likely need future surgeries

She told followers: “I will never take walking for granted again. Ever.”

Why This Story Resonated So Strongly

Julie received an outpouring of support from fans, colleagues (including Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, Jeanine Pirro, and Sean Hannity), and even strangers who had survived similar crush injuries. Her willingness to post graphic photos and describe the unrelenting pain made her experience feel visceral and real to millions.

The accident also highlighted how dangerously common golf cart injuries are—especially at resorts. The Golf Cart Safety Institute reports over 18,000 golf cart-related injuries requiring ER visits annually in the U.S., with foot/ankle crush injuries among the most severe.

Julie Banderas’ horrific 2024 golf cart accident shattered her right foot so badly that it required multiple reconstructive surgeries and left her with permanent hardware, chronic pain, and lifelong limitations. Eight months later she is still not fully healed and may never be. Her raw, honest documentation of one of the worst non-fatal injuries ever shown by a network news anchor has served as both a cautionary tale and an inspiration to thousands dealing with their own serious injuries.