How close to almost running out of gas was it?
If the fuel light came on and you drove it for another 60 miles, then it almost ran out of gas, or if your like my partner and thing a 1/4 tank showing on the guage means your almost out of gas, then it didn't.
But it sounds like the catalytic converter is clogged (hence the smell) but that would not be related to it running low on fuel.
It may be the fuel filter, but generally if there is gunk in the tank, it's going to sucked in regardless of the fuel level.