A former LSU offensive lineman had his leg amputated after getting shot by a dog. Yes you read that right.
Matt Branch, who played for Louisiana State for three years from 2008-2011 went hunting with a group of friend in Mississippi on Dec. 28 when the freakiest of freak accidents occurred.
While on the hunt, a labrador retriever named Tito jumped into the bed of an off-road vehicle and in doing so, stepped on Branch’s shotgun, somehow taking the safety off and firing a shot right into the left thigh of Branch.
Branch’s friend, Micah Heckford, told The Clarion Ledger the story:
“At approximately 9:40 a.m., David Joe, David, Matt and I were all standing around the bed of the (Polaris) Ranger and Matt had laid his gun down flat in the bed of the Ranger and walked around on the passenger side to finish loading up,” Heckford said. “I was at the tailgate no more than 4 feet away from him.”
Seeing that the hunters were loading the vehicle, another hunting companion, a Labrador retriever named Tito, jumped in the bed of the Ranger. As he walked around finding a place to sit, he stepped on the safety of Branch’s shotgun and pulled the trigger.
“The gun shot,” Heckford said. “Everybody looked up. The first thing I saw was Matt and within two to three seconds he realized he was hit.”
Heckford said Branch’s pants were “soaked in blood” but the group was able to transport him to a road accessible to first responders.
The bullet spray hit Branch’s femoral artery and other vital vascular and muscle tissue, nearly taking his life.
Branch endured emergency surgery that took several hours and included multiple blood transfusions.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to assist with the costs of his medical care.
