15-inch rod through head: Man survives the impossible

Defying death, man survives after rod skewers his skull in freak accident. A man in southern China survived a harrowing 10-hour surgery after falling face-first onto a dinner table and having a metal rod impale his head through his mouth. The incident occurred when the man, identified as Aqiang, lost his balance while intoxicated during a dinner with colleagues, leading to his hospitalization at Shenzhen University General Hospital in Guangdong province.

The hospital shared details of this extraordinary case on social media on April 11. When the accident occurred, Aqiang's colleagues witnessed blood spurting from his mouth and immediately called emergency services.

Doctors at the hospital's Trauma Center classified the case as extremely dangerous and rare. "This foreign object carried a lot of bacteria. The path it penetrated the patient involves his mouth, eyes and brain. Any small, careless operation might lead to a fatal problem," they stated.

X-ray scans revealed the 40 cm metal rod had come within 2 mm of crucial brain blood vessels, creating an almost impossible safety margin. Before the operation could begin, firefighters were called to cut the protruding parts of the rod.

The presence of a clip at the rod's top complicated the extraction process, posing significant risks to Aqiang's mouth, eyes, and brain. Despite these challenges, surgeons successfully removed the rod without causing additional damage.




Following the surgery, Aqiang spent several days in the intensive care unit fighting infection. After a month-long hospital stay, he was discharged with only minor visual impairment in his right eye, while his language and motor functions remained intact.

"I still feel scared when thinking about the incident. I was saved by doctors. It is a blessing in a bad situation," Aqiang said after his recovery.

The case was reported by the South China Morning Post, which detailed how Aqiang had been drinking and dining with coworkers when the accident occurred. His loss of balance resulted in him falling onto the table where the metal rod was erected.