Aidan Perry, 20, was reportedly saved by his cross necklace from a near-death experience in Florida, local media reported.
Perry had been wearing the symbol of his faith while staying at his friend’s house in June, Fox News reported. He was accidentally shot in the chest, and after being rushed to the operating theater at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, and survived despite the dangerous location of the wound.
Doctors reportedly believe that the gold cross pendant could have spared Perry’s organs by splitting the bullet.
The bullet entered Perry’s chest but exited through his armpit and then re-entered through his arm. Perry suffered a broken humerus as a result of the bullet’s reentry.
Perry told FOX 35 he believed he was going to die after he looked down and saw “tons of blood.”
“It’s just kind of a reminder now – to never stop believing,” said Perry. “Keep believing and God’s definitely real.”
Perry stressed that the close call with death had only strengthened his faith.
'The outcome would have been completely different'
The trauma surgeon who treated Perry, Khafra Garcia Henry, told the media that he was “a very fortunate young individual because if his chain was not there, the outcome would have been completely different.”
“When we normally see these injuries, they’re usually devastating injuries,” Henry added.
“In Aidan’s case, he was fortunate enough that the bullet did not enter his chest wall – it ricocheted off the chain he was wearing.”