Florida Man Survives Close-Range Gunshot After Gold Cross Necklace Deflects Bullet

A Florida man who believed he was about to die after being shot at close range is now being described as a “walking miracle.” Doctors determined that his gold cross necklace — a Christmas gift from his father — may have been the very reason he survived the near-fatal incident.

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The Shooting Incident

The shocking event took place on June 7 at a friend’s apartment in Sumter County. Authorities reported that 20-year-old Aiden Perry was spending time with friends when one of them began handling a .40-caliber pistol. What was meant to be casual showing-off quickly turned tragic when the firearm suddenly discharged, sending a bullet directly into Perry’s chest.

The round tore into his upper chest, exited near his armpit, and re-entered his body through his arm, where it fractured his humerus bone. The pain, Perry recalled, was unbearable.

“I looked down and saw tons of blood,” Perry told Fox 35 Orlando. “I thought I was going to die, honestly.”

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A Fight for His Life

His friends rushed him to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, where surgeons immediately began emergency procedures. Miraculously, doctors discovered that none of his vital organs had been damaged, an outcome that seemed almost impossible given the path of the bullet.

Dr. Khafra Garcia Henry, one of the surgeons, explained:
“The bullet entered his left upper chest around this area and traveled to his left arm. Normally, when we see these injuries, they’re devastating. In Aiden’s case, he was fortunate enough that the bullet did not penetrate his chest wall — it ricocheted off the chain he was wearing.”

The necklace, now broken into two pieces, is believed to have shifted the trajectory of the bullet just enough to spare his heart and lungs.

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A Sign of Faith

For Perry, the discovery felt nothing short of divine intervention. Speaking with WESH 2, he held up the shattered cross and said:
“It’s just kind of a reminder now — to never stop believing. Keep believing, and God’s definitely real.”

He added that without the necklace, he was certain he would not have survived:
“I look at it as a lifesaver. I probably wouldn’t be talking to you guys right now [without it].”

His father, who had gifted him the chain, also expressed his belief that divine protection played a role in saving his son’s life.

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Legal Consequences

Meanwhile, the man accused of firing the weapon was arrested and now faces charges of culpable negligence causing injury. Investigators continue to look into the details of the shooting, but officials have described it as an accidental discharge rather than an intentional act.

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A Story of Survival and Caution

Perry’s survival serves as both a testament to resilience and a reminder of the risks of reckless gun handling. Medical experts stressed that few people survive such close-range injuries, calling his case “extraordinary.”

For Perry and his family, however, the incident has taken on a deeper meaning. The broken gold cross is no longer just a piece of jewelry — it has become a symbol of faith, hope, and a second chance at life.