🎙️ Interesting Humans Podcast | Episode 59: "Shot in the Throat with a Hunting Rifle and Lived!"

Host: Jeff Hopeck
Release Date: June 5, 2025
Guest: Keith, an inspiring survivor and member of the Interesting Humans podcast community

1. Introduction

In Episode 59 of the Interesting Humans Podcast, host Jeff Hopeck welcomes Keith, a dedicated member of the podcast community, whose compelling story caught Jeff’s attention through a comment on a previous episode featuring trauma surgeon James Boron. Jeff shares how Keith’s remarkable experience of surviving a gunshot wound to the throat at the age of 18 compelled him to bring Keith’s story to the forefront.

[00:45] Jeff Hopeck: "I'm not going to give away this story, but I'm going to tell you that he was shot in the throat, age 18, no pain med, and I can't imagine for hours. And I'm gonna let you fill us in the rest of the story. So take us back to that day, Keith."

2. The Fateful Hunting Trip

Keith recounts the events of December 10, 1988, a day that would forever change his life. At 18 years old, Keith was a high school senior who accompanied his stepdad and first cousin on a hunting trip to his grandfather's farm in Toombs County, Georgia. Despite neither of them being avid hunters, they decided to spend the morning walking through the woods in search of deer.

[01:01] Keith: "We just walking around. ... We spent an hour, hour and a half doing that. Saw some deer, saw some, does nothing we wanted to take a shot at."

3. The Accident: Shot in the Throat

As they were returning along an old logging path, a doe unexpectedly leaped out onto the path between Keith, his stepdad, and his first cousin. His cousin, inexperienced and armed with a 30-30 rifle, took a shot intended for the deer. Tragically, instead of hitting the intended target, the bullet struck Keith in the throat.

[02:30] Keith: "So as I would say, probably the signal was going from my brain to my right foot to stop. I'm on my back. And it happened to be that my cousin was another 80 yards or so, 90. ... It knocked me down."

The immediate aftermath was horrifying for Keith—blood and his left lung deflating through the bullet wound in his throat. Despite his severe injuries, Jeff observes that Keith received no initial pain medication, heightening the harrowing nature of his survival.

[03:58] Keith: "I saw, you know, blood came out of my neck. ... My left lung deflating through that hole in my neck."

4. Emergency Response and Transport

Realizing the severity of Keith's injury, his stepdad, a Vietnam veteran, sprang into action. They swiftly packed up and navigated the challenging terrain to reach Mount Regional Hospital in Vidalia, Georgia, a journey of approximately 20 miles under dire conditions.

[04:39] Keith: "He jumps up, he says, I got to get the truck. ... We got out on the highway immediately. That's 20, 20, 20 ish miles to Mount Regional Hospital in Vidalia, Georgia."

During the transport, Keith struggled to breathe, clutching his chest and feeling the bullet lodged in his throat. His stepdad maintained composure, focusing solely on getting Keith to medical help.

[09:05] Keith: "I put my left index finger in the bullet hole because I was, I couldn't breathe... So I can breathe the best I could because the, you got the rat lung."

5. Life-Threatening Surgery

Upon arrival at the hospital, trauma surgeon Carl Boyd took charge. Despite the chaos, Carl made quick decisions to save Keith’s life, performing an emergency tracheotomy through the bullet wound and inserting a chest tube to manage the collapsed lung.

[12:23] Keith: "The trauma surgeon ... instead of cutting a tracheotomy, he used a bullet hole. ... he put a trach tube in the bullet hole after he got me working."

Keith vividly describes the pain endured during surgery and the initial lack of pain relief, highlighting the intensity of his ordeal.

[15:12] Keith: "No, nothing. ... So they ... cut you... with no pain meds."

6. The Road to Recovery

Keith spent 11 days in the hospital, navigating through intensive care and gradual recovery. During this time, he grappled with intense pain, shock, and the realization of his near-death experience. The trauma extended beyond the physical injuries, leading to lasting psychological impacts such as PTSD.

[28:35] Keith: "There was nothing until ... the next thing ... when that guy did that, I was kind of like, what in the Hell are you doing, man? That was painful."

Despite the severe injuries, Keith’s resilience and the skilled intervention of the medical team facilitated his survival.

7. Reflections and Spiritual Insights

Keith reflects deeply on the event, attributing his survival to a sense of divine intervention. He shares how this near-death experience solidified his faith and provided him with a profound spiritual insight.

[38:14] Keith: "They left the bullet. ... that I should have been gone. ... I was asking for proof and I got ... I got that proof."

Jeff highlights the spiritual dimension of Keith’s story, emphasizing how such a traumatic event can lead to significant personal growth and understanding.

[41:53] Jeff Hopeck: "He ordains what he hates to accomplish what he loves."

8. Impact on Later Life

The incident had a lasting impact on Keith’s life choices and outlook. He discontinued hunting due to the trauma associated with the event and focused on rebuilding his life, including attending college and fostering meaningful relationships. Keith’s story underscores the profound and enduring effects that life-threatening experiences can have on an individual’s path.

[39:00] Jeff Hopeck: "Is there anything ... if you can go back to that day, is there anything you would do differently?"

[39:14] Keith: "I don't think so. ... I had a lot of questions. ... That day, he showed me he was real."

Conclusion

Keith’s harrowing survival story is a testament to human resilience and the intricate interplay between fate, faith, and recovery. Through his narrative, listeners gain a profound understanding of the physical and emotional challenges faced by those who endure life-threatening injuries. Jeff Hopeck’s empathetic interviewing brings to light the depth of Keith’s experience, offering inspiration and insight into the extraordinary human spirit.

Notable Quotes:

• Keith on the Shooting:

  “I saw, you know, blood came out of my neck. ... blood flew out of the hole in my neck.”
  [03:58]

• Keith on Emergency Surgery:

  “He... did a tracheotomy through the bullet hole... to save that time and effort.”
  [14:53]

• Keith on Spiritual Revelation:

  “That day, he showed me he was real. That's a hell of a way to learn it.”
  [39:27]

Final Thoughts:

Keith’s story is not just one of survival but also of introspection and spiritual awakening. His ability to find meaning and purpose after such a traumatic event provides a powerful example of human endurance and the capacity to transcend immense challenges.

For more inspiring stories, subscribe to the Interesting Humans Podcast and join hosts like Jeff Hopeck as they delve into the extraordinary lives of everyday people.