# Who has been shot the most times and still survived? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 5, 2007, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604 "2007-10-05T05:16:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fireclown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f19dbf/32.png) [@Fireclown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fireclown)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/1 "2007-10-05T05:16:05Z")
I was wondering, who has been shot with the most bullets but still managed to live? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/2 "2007-10-05T07:11:54Z")
Cole Younger certainly has a “shot” at the title. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/3 "2007-10-05T12:10:06Z")
50 Cent was shot 9 times with a 9mm. That deserves a mention. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/4 "2007-10-05T12:13:19Z")
Are we talking about on one single occasion, or can you be shot once a year for thirty years and claim thirty shots? About fifteen years ago my school was visited by a Colombian guy in a wheelchair who told the story of his involvement with the drug trade in Colombia. He was shot twelve times. Hence the wheelchair. No cite, don’t even recall his name. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/5 "2007-10-05T12:16:20Z")
In fiction, probably Fearless Fosdick. In real life, probably somebody who’s not getting around too well these days. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/6 "2007-10-05T12:24:41Z")
The legends say that Rasputin was poisoned, shot many times and “bobbitized” by a group of Russian soldiers who then threw what was left of him into a river. When the body was found, it was discovered old Grigory had drowned to death. How much of that story is true is anyone’s guess. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/7 "2007-10-05T12:52:40Z")
[QUOTE=Priceguy] Are we talking about on one single occasion, or can you be shot once a year for thirty years and claim thirty shots? [/QUOTE] Yah, Roy Cleveland Sullivan was struck by lightning seven times, but not at once. [Cite](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/061201.html) ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/8 "2007-10-05T13:33:15Z")
[QUOTE=bbs2k] Yah, Roy Cleveland Sullivan was struck by lightning seven times, but not at once. [/QUOTE] But didn’t he commit suicide by shooting himself? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/9 "2007-10-05T13:33:19Z")
[QUOTE=Priceguy] About fifteen years ago my school was visited by a Colombian guy in a wheelchair who told the story of his involvement with the drug trade in Colombia. He was shot twelve times. Hence the wheelchair. No cite, don’t even recall his name. [/QUOTE] Looks like [Carl Blaze](http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2006/12/nyc_1051_radio.html) got shot thirteen times and lived (well…made it to the hospital alive…not sure if he made it out from the bit below): > [@](#): > > "Carl Blaze, born Carlos Rivera, was in critical condition early on Friday at Harlem Hospital Center, according to the hospital. Police said he had been shot at least 13 times outside an apartment building near the Inwood section of Manhattan, and his jewelry had been snatched. ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/10 "2007-10-05T13:47:22Z")
[http://andymurphy.net/history/the-saint-valentines-day-massacre/](http://andymurphy.net/history/the-saint-valentines-day-massacre/) “The only person to survive the massacre was Frank Gusenberg. Although he was shot twenty-two times, he survived long enough to talk to investigators.” Sort of counts? With todays care he might have lived. Or: > **[Bullet catch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet_catch)** > > The bullet catch is a stage magic illusion in which a magician appears to catch a bullet fired directly at them ⁠— often in the mouth, sometimes in the hand or sometimes caught with other items such as a dinner plate. The bullet catch may also be referred to as the bullet trick, defying the bullets or occasionally the gun trick. > The trick usually involves a gun which is loaded and operated by someone with a knowledge of firearms to demonstrate that no deception is being used. In most instances,... “Also in the 1950s, German magician Ralf Bialla started to perform the bullet catch, for a fee of 2,000 DM a performance. He wore bullet-proof glasses, strong gloves on his hands with which he covered parts of his face, and his front teeth were made of steel. A .22 rifle was fired, and the bullet had to go through three glass panes before Bialla caught it with his teeth. He was seriously wounded nine times, but survived. He was portrayed in the 1972 documentary film “Wer schießt auf Ralf Bialla?”. In 1975, he died by falling off a cliff, supposedly because of constant dizziness caused by the injuries” More seriously: > **[NYC 105.1 radio DJ Carl Blaze shot 13 times](https://www.brooklynvegan.com/nyc-1051-radio/)** > > "Carl Blaze, born Carlos Rivera, was in critical condition early on Friday at Harlem Hospital Center, according to the hospital. Police said he had been shot at least 13 times outside an apartment building near the Inwood section of Manhattan, and... ‘At least 13 times’ and survived. Im sure theres higher. Edit: Bah too slow. Otara ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/11 "2007-10-05T14:06:21Z")
I got shot at least 30 times in a paintball match? That count? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/12 "2007-10-05T14:23:26Z")
Lived/survived for how long? One could live for a while but eventually die as a result of the shots. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/13 "2007-10-05T14:28:26Z")
An acquiantance of mine many years ago who worked in an emergency room said that they once treated someone who had taken “dozens” of hits from 22 Long Rifle bullets, and survived. Since these aren’t exactly super high velocity rounds with hefty masses, they probably won’t kill you unless the central nervous or circulatory systems were directly impacted by one of the bullets. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/14 "2007-10-05T14:34:13Z")
[QUOTE=Szlater] But didn’t he commit suicide by shooting himself? [/QUOTE] Hah! (okay, not really funny) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/15 "2007-10-05T14:35:05Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] An acquiantance of mine many years ago who worked in an emergency room said that they once treated someone who had taken “dozens” of hits from 22 Long Rifle bullets, and survived. Since these aren’t exactly super high velocity rounds with hefty masses, they probably won’t kill you unless the central nervous or circulatory systems were directly impacted by one of the bullets. [/QUOTE] I have a hard time accepting “dozens” (which to me at a minimum implies 24 hits). Just poking 24 holes in someone would be pretty serious not to mention internal bleeding. Even if none managed to be a critical hit that is still a helluva lot of damage even from a low powered round (assuming the guy wasn’t wearing body armor and many of the “hits” did not actually penetrate). ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/16 "2007-10-05T17:40:03Z")
My father was the boss of one of the students that was shot last year at Dawson College; the guy was shot 5 times (I think 6 wounds), including one that went right trough his torso, within a centimetre of his heart. He was released from hospital that night. Major psychological effects for sure, but not a single life-threatening injury. He was even able to drag his SO to safety, hold her up and basically keep her alive, after he’d been shot. Very impressive. Anyways, what struck me is that it’s amazing that a person can get shot so many times (heck, even more than once or twice) and not be more injured than that. Movies/TV make it look like a gunshot is nearly immediately deadly, but it seems the reality is far from it. I’d believe “dozens” (or at least 15-20) no problem! ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/17 "2007-10-05T18:12:19Z")
[QUOTE=mnemosyne] Anyways, what struck me is that it’s amazing that a person can get shot so many times (heck, even more than once or twice) and not be more injured than that. Movies/TV make it look like a gunshot is nearly immediately deadly, but it seems the reality is far from it. [/QUOTE] It all deponds on whether it’s the good guy or the bad guy. Bad guy gets shot, anywhere, and he goes down, like you said. Good guy gets shot in the arm, shoulder, or leg, and nobody gives hem a second glance when he keeps on fighting. I figure all those big arteries in there could make someone die in a matter of minutes if one of those got snipped. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/18 "2007-10-05T18:26:27Z")
[QUOTE=steronz] It all deponds on whether it’s the good guy or the bad guy. Bad guy gets shot, anywhere, and he goes down, like you said. Good guy gets shot in the arm, shoulder, or leg, and nobody gives hem a second glance when he keeps on fighting. I figure all those big arteries in there could make someone die in a matter of minutes if one of those got snipped. [/QUOTE] So that indicates that we will need to find a really, really good person to find the winner. Maybe a monastery in a war torn country could give us our hero. However, Jesus couldn’t even survive a couple of small puncture wounds to the wrists so maybe that doesn’t apply to all good guys. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/19 "2007-10-05T18:33:35Z")
[QUOTE=bbs2k] Hah! (okay, not really funny) [/QUOTE] No, really. He survived seven lightning strikes and then shot himself to death. It’s not a joke. Thus proving, once again, that truth is often stranger than fiction. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604/20 "2007-10-05T18:38:22Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] However, Jesus couldn’t even survive a couple of small puncture wounds to the wrists so maybe that doesn’t apply to all good guys. [/QUOTE] IIRC crucifixion is more a form of torture. Those people are not meant to die quickly. They die, I think, from exposure (lack of water, food, the elements) and also it is apparently difficult to breathe in that state. That and I also think he was stabbed in the chest by a spear but again my bible history is fuzzy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-shot-the-most-times-and-still-survived/421604.md?page=2)