Weird stuff happens with bullets! Calls (EMS) I've personally run: 10yo boy shot w/ .22lr in rt temple, point blank, 90*. We were only a couple minutes away, probably less than one minute on-scene (knocked deputy over going out the door), 2 medics and 1 EMT/driver on truck (darned good crew, if I do say so myself), 7-8 minute run-time, excellent ER doc waiting with "all-hands".
1st x-ray showed onset of brain-shift (bad sign). Bullet entered, then curved upward at the midline and lodged against inside of skull at the top of his head. He was subsequentially discharged 10 days later w/ no neuro deficits.
14 yo female shot point blank, .38 Spec WC target load. Entered below left eye penetrating the sinus cavity. When I arrived she was sitting on door-step finger sweeping bloody muscus out of her mouth, large swollen area at base of neck on right shoulder. Bullet had actually lodged in C-1, fracturing it and a fragment had passed just above the bifurcation (read Y) of the carotid, between the arms of the "Y". She was "trached" the next day but discharged sometime later, physically fit.
Both the above were alert and talked all the way to the hospital, about 20 minutes in the second case.
Young (20's) adult male. .25ACP to mid-sternum (breast bone) and aslo to left ribs. Found face down in grass w/ arms folded under head. When we rolled him over he said :"Oh, God, I can't breathe".
Arrested about 4-5 minutes later, now only 2 minutes out. Could not be resusitated. X-ray showed 1 bullet lodged very near spine. ER Doc said probably died of spinal shock.
Stuff happens. Sometimes it's just not your time, sometimes it is.
As for OP, I always like the poster of the heron/stork? swallowing the frog, except the frog has the heron by the throat:"NEVER give up!" Glad your buds OK! Buy him a cold one from me.
Stay safe.
Bob
