NEWS: Man Unknowingly Drives Nail Through The Roof of His Mouth, Pierces Brain

CULTURE: Man Unknowingly Drives Nail Through The Roof of His Mouth, Pierces Brain

If you're a construction worker and you've been having trouble with a piercing toothache lately, you might want to get it treated as soon as possible - it could actually be a 4-inch nail piercing through the roof of your mouth. In a story begging to be included in this year's "What the Fuck?" list, 23-year-old Patrick Lawler ended up in the emergency room of a suburban Denver hospital after going to his dentist to treat what he thought was a minor toothache.



Lawler was working at a construction site in Breckenridge when a nail gun he was using backfired, sending a nail into a nearby piece of wood. Unbeknownst to Lawler, however, a second nail shot upward into his mouth with so much force that it plunged an inch and a half into his brain, barely avoiding his right eye. He began experiencing pain and blurred vision after the accident (go figure) and attempted to treat himself with painkillers and ice, thinking that the problem was with his teeth. When that didn't work, he finally went to the dentist's office, where his wife works, and got the surprise of his life.

After the nail was discovered Lawler was rushed to the hospital, where doctors spent 4 hours carefully removing it. What's really remarkable about Lawler's case is that, according to the doctor who operated on him, it's not even the first time he's seen something like this:

Lawler's surgery was a success, and he is expected to spend the next few days recuperating in the hospital, wondering how in the fuck a nail could have entered his mouth and punctured his brain without him noticing it, and preparing himself for the merciless ribbing that he's going to get when he returns to work.

If I ever get a nail in my brain I'm going to send a few volts through[1] it to see what happens.

This reminds me of the woman who had a nose job, and then thought she had a cold, and they did tests because she kept sniffling, and it wasn't snot but BRAIN FLUID.

[1] okay okay, through across it.

Someone seriously needs to take the nailguns away from the people of Denver. Seriously.

Extreme piercing.

Some people should NOT be allowed to play with sharp objects.

"You'll shoot your eye out!"

i've never heard of anything like this before. weird.

Wow ... nice and vertical!

putz

In the summer i work construction as a carpenter and i've seen guys get fuked up by nail guns. I shot my self in the thumb this last summer and it hurt but you just pull it out. But it makes a mess because blood flys every where. How tis guy didn't know surpasses my knowledge?

That is insane. That's an excellent picture. I kind of forgot just how big that nail would have been.

also a little bit

Guess they should have put a warning on the nails.

Do not eat iPod Sh--err... nails.

HAHA I mean, COME ON MAN, HE'D BEEN DOING ALL HE COULD!
In all seriousness (seriously), thank goodness the surgery was a success and he's recovering.

How in the fuck does it get that angle without either going through your lower jaw or hitting a tooth on the way in is just beyond me.

"Worker's comp muthafucka! I be suin' yo' ass, I be suing Black and Decker, and while I be at it, I be suin' Ben & Jerry's BEYOCH!"

HOW THE FUCK...guns cant "backfire" so he must have had it pointed at his head to begin with...it boggles the mind, I guess it double fired and...wow... great that he wasn't killed

WTF...

Guys, you need to watch more of the Simpsons.

I saw that, it's good that the media are finally showing the consequences of when suicide attempts go wrong.
I don't think they emphasise enough how dangerous suicide attempts can be when not done by trained professionals.

This is seriously one of the most hilarious yet blisteringly pathetic things I have ever heard.

[Edited on Jan 17, 2005 by SmellinOfTroy]

...ow

What the fuck! This is unbelievable sickenign and hilarious all at the same time.

Wait a minute... Shouldn't he have had blood spurting out of his head? I rememebr being little and I got one of my baby teeth knocked out, G.Damn did that thing bleed... And I wish it had killed him, then he couldn't have any more children that turn into stupid people like their father who shoot themselves with nailguns and don't notice it.

*Edited to say:
And I wouldn't care so much if they were just doing stupid stuff to themselves, but these are the same people who do stupid things that affect OTHER people.

[Edited on Jan 17, 2005 12:35PM]

I am never fucking around with a nail gun ever again. Seriously, they need to put some serious safety redesign so taht this CANNOT happen again.