Alice Wade
A terrifying simulation has illustrated how a soldier survived against all odds after a live grenade landed in his chest.
The video, posted by YouTuber Zackdfilms, has gathered 19 million views for its depiction of how the person miraculously lived despite the near-fatal attack.
As revealed in the simulation, during the assault, a grenade was launched towards the soldier, where it hit him directly in the chest. But rather than exploding inside him, the device pierced through his skin and remained intact.
He was then rushed to the hospital, where doctors attempted to dislodge the grenade.
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Since the impaled object was at a dangerous risk of exploding, the surgeon was unable to use typical means of removing it, as the use of electric tools to seal the surrounding blood vessels could detonate the bomb.
Instead, the brave medic used only hand tools to steadily remove the explosive, saving both the soldier's life and those around him.
Although the clip does not make clear who the individual is intended to be, previous instances of live grenades being removed have occurred.
According to a BBC report from 2023, one Ukrainian soldier survived a near-identical attack, with a live grenade having punctured his chest but not exploded.
Photos showing an X-ray of the soldier's chest were posted to the Ukrainian armed forces medical service's Facebook page.
A second picture showed a surgeon gingerly holding the device after carefully removing it from the soldier's chest, where it had landed just next to his heart.
The post explained that two sappers were also in the operating theater. These military engineers ensured the safety of medical staff.
Much like the simulation, the report stated that the surgery could not be carried out using electrocoagulation - typically used to control bleeding - since the 'ammunition could [have detonated] at any time'.
After the life-saving operation, a team of sappers reportedly disposed of the explosive safely.
It was the steady hand of General Andrii Verba, said to be 'one of the most experienced surgeons' of Ukraine's army, who managed to retrieve the active grenade.
Though it is not known how the explosive managed to land in the soldier's chest, the grenade used, a VOG, can be thrown from a distance of up to 400m and can be up to four centimeters long.
Thankfully, the post stated that the soldier was recovering from the surgery.