How I got shot

[Littlelebowski]

The following pictures depict the aftermath of a gun shot wound inflicted by a .45ACP 230 grn. hollow point projectile, fired at a distance of less than two feet from a 4” barreled Kimber Pro Carry 1911.

The victim is a healthy, robust, adult male, thirty-three years old, and an eight year veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

The injury was inflicted while the victim was in the front seat of his Jeep Cherokee, driving two passengers whom he described as co-workers to the firing range. From the driver’s seat, the victim described hearing a muffled ‘pop’ and accompanying spontaneous loss of use of his right arm. He described a total loss of digital mobility, and a sensation as if his arm were a “Tentacle or over cooked noodle just limply hanging there, totally useless and unresponsive.”*
Apparently, one of the passengers had taken the Kimber pistol from the range bag while sitting behind the victim. Outside the victim’s field of view, the passenger had inserted a loaded magazine, and cycled the action with his index finger resting on the trigger, discharging the weapon.
The projectile caused a ‘through and through’ injury, shattering the bones in the elbow, and exiting the front of the arm, where it grazed the victims rib before terminating in the dash board of the vehicle.
The small wound that appears to be a stab wound is actually the exit path of the projectile, having passed through the front of the victims arm.
The victim described himself as shocked but lucid, with the pain setting in rapidly over the first five minutes, and no possible use of the injured arm. He was able to safely stop the vehicle, exit, and enter the passenger side with assistance, allowing his passenger to drive him to the hospital. Once in the passenger seat, he described the bleeding as minimal, in consideration of the injury, but the effects of shock left him sweating and groaning, biting his uninjured arm to steady himself.

Surgery was not started until several hours after the time of injury, and a subsequent transport to a different facility. According to the victims account, any movement or ‘jostling’ of the limb during this time caused excruciating pain.

The photo of the X-ray indicates the extent of the reconstruction necessary. Bone grafts were taken from the right hip to repair the damage, and the expected 80-90% recovery of limb mobility and strength is being described as ‘miraculous.’ The first three major surgeries occurred over two days, requiring four bolts and other pictured hardware. The victim described the pain after the surgery exceeding that of the original wound significantly. The ordeal left him weak, dehydrated, and afflicted with further injuries from catheterization and other improper or rushed care. His recovery is not yet complete, though he has returned to work on restricted duty.

The injury provides us with several lessons:
First, and most importantly, is the tragic result of failing to follow the basic fire arms safety rules. Uncertain of his background or muzzle direction and with finger on the trigger, the shooter managed to inflict a permanent injury through negligence alone.

Second, is the total and instant loss of use of the injured limb. Though the victim described himself as mobile, and lucid, use of the limb in any way was beyond his capability. Had this been a fighting situation, he would not have been able to use his dominant hand for even the most rudimentary of tasks, even though he remained able to “fight” for a few critical moments more.

Third, is the nature of the wound. Much is hypothesized about the effects of different types of munitions from different arms. Here we see an undoing of popular belief, where a hollow cavity projectile expanded, doing devastating damage on impact with bone, but proceeded through the limb, leaving a small exit wound. Though a single injury is not definitive, it does illustrate the falseness of some assumptions about the behavior of bullets. Especially those established by use of flesh simulating media, such as ballistic gelatin, that lack the skeletal structure and tension of living flesh.

Finally, is the lesson of determination. The victim retained control of the situation, and of the vehicle. He acted to gain medical assistance, and did not panic. This saved his limb, and possibly his life. Beyond that, he did not accept the injury as limiting, and fought to regain use of his limb, aiding in his recovery.

The victim remains to this day an avid shooter and proponent of fire arms. He takes pleasure in his continued use, and ownership of the fire arm he was shot with, and wishes most of all that his injury will serve to help educate other shooters on safety, and survival.

[M4arc]

DAMN

[IroquoisSnakePlissken]

This Little Lebowski is most certainly an urban achiever.

[SeriousStudent]

Ouch, I hope you heal quickly.

Part of me wonders if you returned fire.......

[SHIVAN]

I'd have had a major problem with reconciling this accident with my "co-workers".


Hope you are getting better.

[ZDL]

$#%@! Hope you heal quickly brother!

On the upside, you have met at least one of the requirements to becoming a successful rap star. Look forward to your album.

[Striker5]

Dude....

[trio]

i remember hearing about this when it happened from some of my acquaitances that work at VA Arms....

all I can say is I hope your recovery is continuing, and that you are a complete badass for not letting the turkeys get you down....


and I mean that in all honesty, when I first heard your story, i thought not only of the possible long term physical effects if it happened to me, but much deeper mental things....


not saying this isn't happening, but extreme kudos to you for busting ass and working your way through it....that in and of itself is an accomplishment a small portion of the population is capable of.....


i'd say it was partially due to your time in the Corps, but as a former Army puke I know that likely only acted as a hinderance

seriously though, keep healing and well done

[HAMMERDROP]

I stopped a semi wadcutter .38 with my breast bone when I was 19 years old.
No where as intense as your wound 'LL' - jeez sure makes you feel mortal doesn't it ?

Michael

[Littlelebowski]

It sure does make you feel mortal. I wasn't in any mood to return fire.

Current status is that I'm on my second bone graft to heal up the gap in my humerus. Waiting on the material that has grown and spanned the gap to calcify and turn into bone.

[twodollarbill]

Dam!!!
Recovery is a bitch watching others have all the fun too.
My misfortune was not inflicted upon me, but a 90% pinched nerve
in my neck. I had a "limp-noodle" left arm and the pain of a knife
scrapping the meat off my bone from shoulder to finger tips.
Surgery brought everything back + 80%....but no my seat time for this fly boy.

[HES]

Daer God, sorry that you are having to endure this. How much use of your right arm have you recovered as a percentage? Are you now shooting left handed?

[C4IGrant]

Originally Posted by SHIVAN

I'd have had a major problem with reconciling this accident with my "co-workers".


Hope you are getting better.

Uh YA! MAJOR PROBLEM.


C4

[MaceWindu]

humerus

Not a damn thing "funny" about that...

Mace

[markm]

Originally Posted by SHIVAN

I'd have had a major problem with reconciling this accident with my "co-workers".

That's the understatement of the century. I have such a hot temper, I'd likely have killed the fuck right there on the spot.

Excellent reason NEVER to go shooting with untrained retards.

[SHIVAN]

I've heard of people who never go to public ranges, or hunt public land, without at least IIIA body armor on their bodies. Some have ventured to tell me they would wear thier CIRAS or Eagle PC with plates simply to sight-in rifles during the opening weeks of deer season.

I guess I know why now...

[markm]

Originally Posted by SHIVAN

I've heard of people who never go to public ranges, or hunt public land, without at least IIIA body armor on their bodies. Some have ventured to tell me they would wear thier CIRAS or Eagle PC with plates simply to sight-in rifles during the opening weeks of deer season.

I guess I know why now...

No shit about it. My boss and I sat and read about all the hunting deaths in Wisconcin one day. There are some exceptionally stupid people with rifles out in the woods during deer season. WOW!

[Jay_Cunningham]

A lot of these untrained people happen to be "open carry" advocates...

[Tungsten]

Lebowski, would you permit me to repost this on our local gun owners forum? It presents a strong lesson that many of them could benefit from.

Namely, don't finger your weapons!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[K.L. Davis]

Wow... My best wishes towards a successful recovery.