Kegan "SMURF" Gill: The Fighter Pilot Who Survived The Fastest Ejection In History, Surviving The Sound Barrier & PTSD (Rebroadcast)
Team Never Quit24 Joulu 2025

Kegan "SMURF" Gill: The Fighter Pilot Who Survived The Fastest Ejection In History, Surviving The Sound Barrier & PTSD (Rebroadcast)

Fighter Pilot Survival: Kegan Gill's Battle Beyond the Battlefield

In this extraordinary episode, Marcus and Melanie meet with retired U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot Kegan Gill, whose story is nothing short of miraculous. Kegan survived a catastrophic ejection from his aircraft during a training mission over the Atlantic Ocean, where he ejected directly into the sound barrier. The injuries he sustained in that moment were severe enough to kill most people – his limbs torn apart and a traumatic brain injury among them. But Kegan's ordeal was only beginning.

Plunged into the icy waters of the Atlantic with his parachute still attached, his wetsuit torn, and his arms unable to move, Kegan was forced to endure a two-hour battle with hypothermia as rescue teams raced to find him. Miraculously, his hypothermic state prevented fatal blood loss. Following this harrowing experience, Kegan faced months of grueling recovery, eventually achieving a perfect Physical Fitness Test score and returning to flight duty.

However, Kegan’s journey didn’t end with physical recovery. He began experiencing severe psychotic episodes due to his brain injury, leading to a stint in a VA Mental Health Facility. Pharmaceutical treatments only worsened his symptoms, and he endured dehumanizing treatment from caregivers who misunderstood his unique needs.
Now, Kegan is finding renewed hope through alternative treatments for brain health. Through the Warrior Angels Foundation, he has discovered the power of nutraceutical and hormonal interventions, offering a glimmer of healing. Beyond his personal health battles, Kegan is a dedicated father and husband, working tirelessly to support his young family.

Join us as Kegan opens up about his incredible journey of survival, resilience, and healing. His story is as inspiring as it is shocking – a testament to human strength and the will to overcome even the darkest of circumstances.
Tune in to hear a story of grit, determination, and the relentless pursuit of healing against all odds.

In This Episode You Will Hear:
• When I was about 10 years old, my family had a friend that had a Cessna, and he took me up on this lawnmower with wings, and we went buzzing around, and it felt like a freakin’ rocket ship. I absolutely loved being above the earth, and I felt so free. (6:36)
• In May of 2012, I graduated as a winged aviator, and I got those wings pinned on my chest. (23:40)
• [Marcus] It’s an absolute transition into a different human being the minute those wings touch your chest. (24:02)
• [In flight school] you showed up there, and you had your wings, and you thought you made it. They made it very clear you have not made anything yet. (26:40)
• It just so happened on this day there was a 16 foot, 3,500 pound Great White Shark named Mary Lee directly under my airspace, and my buddy pointed out,
“Hey man, Today would be a terrible day to eject,” and an hour after having that conversation, I found myself out on what turned into a pretty freaking wild experience. (36:23)
• [Melanie] Q: Is it common to eject?” [Keegan] A: It happens more than you hear about in the news. We lose a few naval fighter jets every year to mishaps. (37:16)
• When you show up at flight school, they say “Look to your left and look to your right. One of you is gonna have a serious mishap or be dead choosing this job. Are you sure you wanna be here?” (37:49)
• You think you’re invincible, and you don’t really think anything of it. (38:04)
• Keegan tells the detailed story of that fateful day. (Starting at 41:21)
• When I punched out, I got the initial blast from the ejection seat, and then immediately impacted the sound barrier with my body. At that speed, the human body is not aerodynamic. (50:58)
• The aircraft impacted the water so fast, it just vaporized. (52:50)
• They ended up wheeling me in, and treated me for severe hyperthermia. They took my core body temperature. I was at 87 degrees. [Marcus] “That should’ve killed you.” (60:13)
• One of the more senior guys takes me into his office and he goes: “Congratulations, Lieutenant Gill. If you can figure out how to get your body working again, we’ll get you back in a Super Hornet. (68:14)
• My brain was just not working the way it was supposed to from TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). (75:04)
• I had a deep sense of betrayal from all that thought I had served. To see the treatment, it seemed like everything I was fighting for was a joke. (89:53)
• I’ve had a number of psychedelic-assisted therapies that have been really helpful. (95:54)
• Ibogaine has been studied pretty thoroughly at this point. It’s showing that it triggers neuro-regeneration. (102:21)

Support Kegan:
- IG: kegansmurfgill
- https://kegangill.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabtNw03Fww-lVt1LHf5b2iWrga-lLxSr_uJYqbNYUMN_NKoEMDqtfBd-Cw_aem_v5m2wI-nx5AKPUoeOA77pA

Order His Book Here --> https://ballastbooks.com/purchase/phoenix-revival/

- IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13
- https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit
Support TNQ
- IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13
- https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit

Sponsors:
-
Tractorsupply.com/hometownheroes
-
Navyfederal.org
-
mizzenandmain.com [Promo code: TNQ20]
-
masterclass.com/TNQ

-
Dripdrop.com/TNQ
-
ShopMando.com [Promo code: TNQ]
-
meetfabiric.com/TNQ
- Prizepicks (TNQ)

-
cargurus.com/TNQ
-
armslist.com/TNQ

- PXGapparel.com/TNQ
- bruntworkwear.com/TNQ

-
shipsticks.com/TNQ

- stopboxusa.com {TNQ}
- ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]

- kalshi.com/TNQ
- joinbilt.com/TNQ

- Tonal.com [TNQ]
- greenlight.com/TNQ

- drinkAG1.com/TNQ

- Hims.com/TNQ
- Shopify.com/TNQ

Jaksot(461)

Mike Ritland – Navy SEAL K9 expert and operator – New York Times Best Selling Author – World class dog trainer

Mike Ritland – Navy SEAL K9 expert and operator – New York Times Best Selling Author – World class dog trainer

The Team Never Quit Podcast is honored to welcome former Navy SEAL and world-class dog breeder and trainer, Mike Ritland, to the show. Marcus Luttrell and David Rutherford bring another SEAL to the TN...

7 Helmi 20181h 21min

Aubrey Marcus – CEO Onnit – Searching for total Human Optimization – Podcast Host – Author and Social Media Influencer

Aubrey Marcus – CEO Onnit – Searching for total Human Optimization – Podcast Host – Author and Social Media Influencer

What is total Human Optimization and how do we achieve it. This week on the Team Never Quit Podcast Navy SEALs, Marcus Luttrell, David Rutherford and #TheWizard welcome a man whose mission in life to ...

31 Tammi 20181h 25min

Brogan Woll – Listener write-in special – Suffers from “The Suicide Disease” Trigeminal Neuralgia – Two brain surgeries – Ultra inspiring wife, mother and ER nurse

Brogan Woll – Listener write-in special – Suffers from “The Suicide Disease” Trigeminal Neuralgia – Two brain surgeries – Ultra inspiring wife, mother and ER nurse

What would you do if every day of your life your face felt like it was perpetually being stung by a taser gun? What type of outlook would you have if every doctor you met said there was nothing they c...

24 Tammi 20181h 47min

Tim Ballard – Rescuing children from sex slavery with O.U.R. – Faith in the face of evil

Tim Ballard – Rescuing children from sex slavery with O.U.R. – Faith in the face of evil

In a show that will challenge your own humanity and frame of reference for this world, TNQ Podcast hosts and former Navy SEALs, Marcus Luttrell and David Rutherford sit down with Tim Ballard, founder ...

17 Tammi 20181h 17min

Tony Blauer – Combatives Instructor – Fear Expert – All Around Badass – SPEC Ops Training Specialist

Tony Blauer – Combatives Instructor – Fear Expert – All Around Badass – SPEC Ops Training Specialist

Everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face. Well, not everyone. If you punch Tony Blauer in the face standby to get your ass kicked. Navy SEALs, Marcus Luttrell, David Rutherford and #TheWi...

3 Tammi 20181h 47min

Kirstie Ennis – USMC Helo Door Gunner Amputee – 7 Summits Climber – Paralympic Snowboarder

Kirstie Ennis – USMC Helo Door Gunner Amputee – 7 Summits Climber – Paralympic Snowboarder

Have you ever met someone born to be a Marine? A person so committed to serving they were willing to sacrifice everything for the greater good? Join the Team Never Quit Podcast this week as Navy SEALs...

27 Joulu 20171h 7min

Bernie Kerik – Former Police Commissioner New York City 9/11  – Former Head of the New York Prison System – Convicted Felon

Bernie Kerik – Former Police Commissioner New York City 9/11 – Former Head of the New York Prison System – Convicted Felon

It’s not often we have the opportunity to hear the perspective of someone that literally has a totally unique outlook. This week on the Team Never Quit Podcast, Navy SEALs Marcus Luttrell, David Ruthe...

20 Joulu 20171h 11min

Derek Weida – 82nd Airborne ‘Amputee-Extraordinaire’ – Hilarious YouTube Fitness Guru – Iraq War Veteran

Derek Weida – 82nd Airborne ‘Amputee-Extraordinaire’ – Hilarious YouTube Fitness Guru – Iraq War Veteran

Derek Weida is way more than one a legged fitness guru in an ass-kicking-contest, and he’s definitely not your typical social media influencer! He’s motivationally hilarious with a message everyone ne...

6 Joulu 20171h 35min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

rss-murhan-anatomia
psykopodiaa-podcast
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
adhd-podi
rss-narsisti
aamukahvilla
rss-rahamania
rss-liian-kuuma-peruna
rahapuhetta
rss-vapaudu-voimaasi
psykologia
rss-koira-haudattuna
rss-eron-alkemiaa
rss-the-leafy-lounge
rss-duodecim-lehti
rss-valo-minussa-2
leikitaanko-laakaria
jari-sarasvuo-podcast
mielipaivakirja
rss-turun-yliopisto