Strange

Snapper shoots own injury

by tbphotos | May 23, 2008 at 11:54 am

247 views | 0 Recommendations | 2 comments

Getting pierced in the leg by a javelin would certainly be a 'downfall' to a photographer's day. Having had lots of photo shoots myself in areas of sports and other potentially dangerous situations, I have at least been aware of the surrounding hazards, but luckily have not yet been the successful target of flying projectiles or other objects, although I received 'fair' warnings while working close to such actions.

A NEWSPAPER photographer was speared in the leg by a javelin at a school sport day - and still managed to take a snap of his bizarre injury. Warning: Graphic image
Ryan McGeeney of Utah's Standard-Examiner escaped serious injury in the accident at a track competition at a high school in Provo, Utah, at the weekend, the Associated Press reported.
As others rushed to help him, McGeeney took a couple of shots of his gruesome injury.
"If I didn't, it would probably be my editor's first question when I got back," he said later.
McGeeney, 33, was taking pictures of the discus event and apparently wandered into an off-limits area set aside for the javelin throw.
The javelin tip hit him just below the knee, went through the skin and emerged on the other side of his leg.
"It wasn't real painful. ... I was very lucky in that it didn't hit any blood vessels, nerves, ligaments or tendons," McGeeney said.
Most of the javelin was cut off at the scene and the piece left in his leg was removed at a local hospital.
The javelin was thrown by Provo High School student Anthony Miles.
"One of the first things that came to my mind was, 'Good thing we brought a second javelin'," he said.
Anthony went on to win the state title in javelin.