The former prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, was shot while giving a speech on 8 July, and he was later rushed to hospital in critical condition.
He entered a state of cardiac arrest by the time rescuers arrived and reportedly had no vital signs, and he later succumbed to his injuries after doctors tried their best but couldn’t resuscitate him.
He was later revealed to have died after having his heart penetrated by the gunshots, with the perpetrator using a custom sawed-off shotgun.
He was declared dead at the Nara Medical University Hospital at 5.03 pm local time, with the doctors holding a press conference to detail the injuries that PM Abe suffered.
Gunshot penetrated his heart
He had gone into cardiopulmonary arrest at the sight of the attack and lost vital signs while being conveyed to the hospital, according to Dr Hidetada Fukushima, who is the head of emergency services at the hospital.
Doctors found two gunshot wounds about 5cm apart on his neck and the front side of his body, as well as a third gunshot wound in his upper chest, near his shoulder.
One of the wounds was deep enough to penetrate his heart despite there being no bullets found in his body, resulting in his blood vessels being damaged and causing him to bleed.
4.5-hour surgery with 20 medical staff
He underwent 4.5 hours of open-heart surgery that involved more than 20 medical staff, who managed to plug the huge wound on his heart, making use of more than 100 units of blood in transfusions.
However, Abe’s heartbeat didn’t return, and his cause of death was determined to be blood loss.
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