03/29/2024
Bladen County Sheriff's Department
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A Bladen County Sheriff’s detective on Friday saved the life of man who accidentally shot himself in the leg.

The deputy’s name was not given in a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.

“I am very proud of our detective who did an outstanding job saving the life of this man, Sheriff Jim McVicker said. “If it had not been for our detective’s quick thinking and applying the tourniquet to stop the bleeding, this gentleman could have died within five to 10 minutes.”

According to the Sheriff’s Office, a call was received about 12:30 p.m. Friday from a person in the Tar Heel area near Smithfield Packing that a man had accidentally shot himself in the leg.

A nearby detective responded and determined the man had more than likely shot himself in the femoral artery of the upper leg. He was bleeding profusely, according to the news release.

The detective believed the man was in shock. The officer applied direct pressure to the wound before applying a tourniquet, the Sheriff’s Office said.. The man was transported to Cape Fear Valley Hospital in Fayetteville where he was treated for the wound.

“The Sheriff’s Office put together these trauma kits for our officers after receiving guidance and advice from a retired Special Forces soldier,” McVicker said. “These kits include items such as tourniquets and quick clotting agents to help stop the bleeding in the event of a gunshot wound or other serious injury.”

McVicker said he plans on recognizing the detective with a commendation for his quick actions at their upcoming promotional ceremony on Tuesday.

“With Veterans Day coming up on Monday, here is an example of our detective, a former U.S. Army E-4 and our friend, a former U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier who helped us make this trauma kits, that have come together to save a life,” McVicker said. “God bless our veterans and the United States of America.”

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