A dramatic simulation demonstrates the astonishing circumstances under which a soldier survived when a live grenade embedded itself in his chest.
This video, shared by YouTuber Zackdfilms, has amassed 19 million views. It vividly portrays the incredible survival story of an individual who withstood a potentially lethal assault.
The simulation reveals that during an attack, a grenade was hurled at the soldier, striking him directly in the chest. Remarkably, instead of detonating inside him, the grenade pierced through his skin but remained unexploded.
He was swiftly taken to the hospital, where medical professionals worked tirelessly to extract the grenade.
Due to the imminent risk of explosion, the surgeon couldn’t employ standard procedures to remove it. The use of electric tools to close the blood vessels posed a risk of triggering the grenade.
In an act of bravery, the medic utilized only manual tools to carefully extract the explosive, preserving the soldier’s life and the safety of others.
The clip does not specify the identity of the soldier depicted, but there have been documented cases of live grenades being surgically removed.
A report from the BBC in 2023 details how a Ukrainian soldier endured a similar ordeal when a live grenade pierced his chest without detonating.
Images displaying an X-ray of the soldier’s chest were shared on the Facebook page of the Ukrainian armed forces medical service.
Another picture depicted a surgeon holding the device after successfully removing it from the soldier’s chest, where it had lodged near his heart.
The post elaborated that two sappers were present in the operating room. These military engineers played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of the medical team.
Mirroring the simulation, the report indicated that the surgery avoided electrocoagulation—commonly employed to control bleeding—since the ‘ammunition could [have detonated] at any time’.
Following the successful surgery, a team of sappers reportedly disposed of the explosive safely.
The deft hands of General Andrii Verba—described as ‘one of the most experienced surgeons’ in Ukraine’s army—were instrumental in removing the live grenade.
The exact circumstances leading to the grenade’s impact on the soldier’s chest are unclear. The grenade, a VOG, can be launched from up to 400 meters away and measures up to four centimeters in length.
Fortunately, the post confirmed that the soldier is on the mend following the operation.