Farmer survives gunshot to the head … without brain damage

Sunday newspaper Rapport has detailed the extraordinary survival story of a farmer from Frankfort who was shot in the head during a farm attack in the Free State.

The bullet reportedly entered his forehead above his right eye at a downward angle and exited just below his left ear. According to doctors, had the 9mm gunshot been aimed just a little higher, the man, Johnny Muller, would have died or at the very least been rendered brain-damaged or blind.

The attack took place last week Saturday and the farmer has been recovering in hospital since. He will be operated on on 9 October in Bloemfontein.

His wife Dalene explained that when they arrived home late that night, nothing had seemed out of place and their dogs hadn’t barked.

Her husband parked outside the garage and the family went inside to turn off the security alarm. Dalene was in the kitchen when she heard something outside and saw Johnny through the kitchen door pushing away an unknown man.

She heard a gunshot and ran to her bedroom to get a revolver. On the way, she heard a second gunshot. Although she managed to retrieve the firearm, one of what she estimates was two attackers had reached the bedroom. He disarmed her and demanded money, which she explained they did not keep on the farm.

Her 14-year-old daughter was hiding behind the curtains in her bedroom while her 16-year-old son came to the bedroom where his mother was.

She eventually managed to press a panic button, which caused the assailants to flee in Johnny’s bakkie, having only stolen Dalene’s revolver. Dalene and the children locked themselves in the house while waiting for the police; her son was able to see that his father was still breathing outside.

In an extraordinary show of resilience and strength, Muller was able to get up once help arrived – and apparently even climbed into a vehicle later on his own.

The bakkie was reportedly later found abandoned in Standerton, Mpumalanga.