A man working in his garden cheated death by millimetres after he swung a pickaxe which bounced off the washing line and flew into his forehead, entering his skull.
Sheldon Mpofu, 37, was turning soil when he swung the massive tool but hit his washing line on the way down. The pick-axe swung back and the pointed end hit him in the middle of the head, missing his brain and entering a sinus - an empty space in the skull.
Despite his injury he still took a bus to hospital where doctors were stunned the pickaxe had not killed him.
Medics did not immediately realise how serious the injury was but an X-ray and CT scan showed how far the tool had penetrated. Sheldon, of Morley, West Yorkshire, said: ''They said there are sinuses in the forehead which are essentially empty spaces. It was just a few millimetres from entering my brain.
"How it didn't go through was amazing. They told me I was a celebrity around the hospital. The doctor said 'do you realise how lucky you are?'. Everyone was telling me I'd been so lucky." After the accident, and with blood pouring from his head, Mr Mpofu called the non-emergency NHS 111 number for advice.
They told him an ambulance was not necessary but he should go to hospital within an hour, so he bandaged the wound and took a bus to St James's Hospital in Leeds.
He was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary by ambulance where specialists in the field are based.
Mr Mpofu had five stitches under local anaesthetic and was kept in hospital overnight and given antibiotics and a tetanus injection. He said a string of doctors came to see him after hearing about his unbelievable escape. He has been suffering headaches but the wound is healing well and he has been told he does not need an operation.
He added: "I feel like I've had a second lease of life. It's made me value life because anything can happen. I will definitely use my pickaxe again - but very carefully.
"It still amazes me. We are short of miracles. I'm a Christian and I want to let people out there know that miracles can happen."
