For most of us, the chances of walking away from a plane crash, a grizzly bear or a gun attack are slim-to-none. But, as these 20 death defiers show, even everyday people can beat the odds. Indeed, these 20 lucky folks all fought off the Grim Reaper and lived to tell the tale. And while sometimes it took an act of heroic bravery or an all-consuming will to live, more often than not these people survived by nothing short of a miracle.

20. Brent Case

Brent Case was working in the Canadian wilderness in 2008 when a 900-pound grizzly bear lunged at him, sliced his arms, chewed his scalp and stomped on him before wandering off. Amazingly, Case reportedly got up, drove 15 miles to a garage and told staff, “I think my brains are falling out.”

19. Alexis Goggins

Little Alexis Goggins was only seven when she threw herself between her mom and a gunman, taking six bullets to the head and body. The Detroit heroine made the brave lunge after her mom was shot twice by her ex-partner in 2007. And despite fears that she wouldn’t speak or walk again, Alexis soon recovered and was back at school within a year.