Man fires 30cm spear into his eye
Published: 2013 April 26 13:39:13 (2498 Views)
Bruno Coutinho, 34, fired a 12-inch harpoon into his eye and is pretty lucky to live to tell the tale.
The Brazilian was cleaning the loaded firearm, which he uses to go fishing, when he accidentally set it off and fired the spear into his left eye socket.
However, doctors were amazed when Mr Coutinho, who lives in Petropolis, 40 miles north of Rio de Janeiro – arrived at Santa Teresa hospital 10 hours after the incident, still in a lucid state.
He underwent a four-hour operation which saw the harpoon removed and, miraculously, he suffered no brain damage whatsoever.
Fortunately for the man, the spear was covered in some kind of tape so its barbs were not able to open and attach themselves to the skull.
The surgeons were able to remove it relatively easily the same way it went in.
A second operation to try to save the sight in Mr Coutinho's left eye proved unsuccessful but Dr Orlando Maria, chief of neurosurgery at the hospital, said it was 'a matter of millimetres' that saw him survive at all as the harpoon missed every major artery inside his skull.
Neighbours who ran to Mr Coutinho's aid described it as 'like something you only see in a movie'.
He has remained in intensive care since the operation last week, but is expected to be released in the next few days.
- Metro
The Brazilian was cleaning the loaded firearm, which he uses to go fishing, when he accidentally set it off and fired the spear into his left eye socket.
However, doctors were amazed when Mr Coutinho, who lives in Petropolis, 40 miles north of Rio de Janeiro – arrived at Santa Teresa hospital 10 hours after the incident, still in a lucid state.
He underwent a four-hour operation which saw the harpoon removed and, miraculously, he suffered no brain damage whatsoever.
Fortunately for the man, the spear was covered in some kind of tape so its barbs were not able to open and attach themselves to the skull.
The surgeons were able to remove it relatively easily the same way it went in.
A second operation to try to save the sight in Mr Coutinho's left eye proved unsuccessful but Dr Orlando Maria, chief of neurosurgery at the hospital, said it was 'a matter of millimetres' that saw him survive at all as the harpoon missed every major artery inside his skull.
Neighbours who ran to Mr Coutinho's aid described it as 'like something you only see in a movie'.
He has remained in intensive care since the operation last week, but is expected to be released in the next few days.
- Metro
0
You May Like These Videos
WATCH: Victims Narrate Ordeal After Being Clobbered By Riot Cops
FLASHBACK: Morgan Tsvangirai Won't Resign Despite Illness 
Police Violently Beat Harare Protesters 
Zimbabwean Man Who Was Shot By Tswana Employer Appeals For HelpComments
There are no comments.
Get Zim Metro Updates Alerts
Big Reads
Schoolgirl drops out after continuous 'sexual abuse' by teacher
by Staff Reporter | 2019 August 13 07:42:33
Mugabe Knows Nothing About The Zimbabwe Constitution: MP
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 08:12:02
Zim's Protesting Graduates Risk Losing Degrees For Expressing Anger Against Mugabe
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:57:08
Troubled Harare Giants Dynamos Falls Into Another Deep Crisis
by Own Correspondent | 2016 October 01 07:49:17
Grace Mugabe Grovels At Mnangagwa, Says I Did Not Ask Ubaba To Fire You
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:31:48
Mugabe Attacks Mawarire, Claims The Exiled Pastor Failed To Divide Zimbabwe
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:19:13
Shock As Local Bank Denies 'Rich' Mugabe's Son Heifty Credit
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 30 19:14:54Trouble For Police Officers Who Have Been Mercilessly Bludgeoning Protesters
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:20:19
Mugabe "Home Coming" And "Thank You" Rally On Cards
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 23 06:48:24
Prof Moyo Was Dumped By Western Embassies, Claims Mutsvangwa
by Staff Reporter | 2016 September 22 10:08:07Broke RBZ Tracks Down Zimbabweans Living Outside The Country Over Taxi
by Staff Reporter | 2016 September 22 09:16:20
You Are Too Old To Lead, Aging Zim President Mugabe Told
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 22 07:19:25
Anti-Corruption Commission Loses Property In Failed Probe
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 03:18:19
.jpg)
SHOCKING:14 Year Old HIV-Positive Boy Rapes 7 Pupils
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 00:04:55
