Fisherman hit with speargun survives with minimal brain damage

A Brazilian fisherman not only survived being shot in the head with a speargun this weekend but he walked into the hospital lucid several hours later, according to New York Daily News.

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Bruno Barcellos de Souza Coutinho, a 34-year-old fisherman from Rio de Janeiro, was cleaning his 12-inch speargun when it accidentally fired through his left eye, where it logged about 15 centimetres into his head, according to TVNZ.

He reportedly refused medical attention until a family member called the fire department. It must be difficult to convince someone you don't need a doctor while there's a spear lodged in your head.

He arrived at the hospital for emergency surgery on Monday, according to New York Daily News, and he survived the ordeal with minimal brain damage. While he is now blind in his left eye, the newspaper reported that doctors were able to preserve the eyeball.

A similar incident last summer ended in another remarkable survival after a spear penetrated a 16-year-old teen's skull, according to the Miami Herald. The teen and his friend had been loading the speargun when the incident occurred. He was conscious when he arrived at the hospital, the newspaper reported.

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After surgery, he could speak a small amount, according to Sky News.

We'll stick with fishing nets, thanks.