Tom Hanks almost died while making desert island drama Castaway after picking up a staph infection in Fiji.

The Oscar winner failed to treat a wound on his leg and it became infected, but it was only two weeks later when swelling refused to go down that Hanks went to see a doctor - and was told he was close to death.

He says, "He said, 'I have to put you in the hospital as soon as possible... because you're about an hour away from having blood poisoning that will kill you." (KL/WNVOP/CG)

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