Chinese Truck Driver Survives Being Impaled by Log During Accident

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

Every now and again you hear a story about someone getting shot or attacked with a knife, and the person survives because of the precise placement of the bullet or knife. Recently the UK Daily Mail reported on a Chinese truck driver who ran upon an accident -- literally -- and hit another truck from behind. The front truck was illegally carrying tree branches and other landscaping items that stuck out past the allowed limit. One of the logs on the truck entered the driver's side of the cab and penetrated the abdomen of the driver approaching from the rear. It took rescuers an hour to reach the accident scene due to the fact that it occurred in one of the busiest parts of the city.

Rescuers removing impaled driver from truck

The truck driver was impaled, and the log went all the way through the seat. Rescuers removed the entire seat and transported it with the driver to the hospital.

Driver being wheeled through the hospital

Doctors immediately took the man into surgery and found that the wooden spike had not destroyed any of his vital organs, particularly the heart.

Preparing for extraction of the log

During a grueling four-hour operation, surgeons were able to remove the log and save the man's life.

Maybe when he recovers, the Chinese driver should meet the two New Zealand drivers -- one who was impaled by a canoe that was dislodged from a truck and came through his windshield into his chest, and the second who was impaled in the backside when he fell onto an air spigot and was filled up with air. Talk about blowing things out of proportion! (The guy survived and joked about his injury later himself.)

Or maybe he should talk to Jason Ripley of the United Kingdom, who was impaled by a loose barrier that was propelled through his car windshield and lodged in his right shoulder. Jason also survived to tell the tale. 

39 year-old Jason Ripley during rescue operation that saved him

 You can't make this stuff up, folks.

 *****************************