6 Foot Steel Rod Punctures Man's Skull, He's Unharmed

Doctors in Brazil say a construction worker has survived and is lucid after a 6 foot, 660 pound steel rod fell from above and punctured his head on Wednesday.

Twenty-four-year-old Eduardo Leite was taken to Rio de Janeiro's Miguel Couto Hospital where doctors successfully carried out a five-hour surgery to remove the rod from his head.

Doctors say the patient is lucid and shows no negative aftereffects, which they say is unbelievable.

[Luiz Aleandre Essinger, Doctor]:
"It is a very uncommon injury this type of trauma, a steel rod that goes through the patient's brain.  It enters through the top of the head and goes out between the eyes.  The fact that the patient arrived here lucid and talking is incredible.  After withdrawing the object, he remains in good condition, moving his arms and legs, it is truly a miracle."

Essinger added Leite will be given antibiotics during the next seven days to avoid risk from infection.

[Luiz Aleandre Essinger, Doctor]:
"He responded very well to the surgery and so far, he is doing very well, he's lucid, in good spirits, he ate and he moves is arms and legs.  But now, the risk moving forward over the next few days will be in relation to any infection."

The bar, weighing 660 pounds, fell from the fifth floor of a building under construction, pierced Leite's hat, entering through the back of his head and exiting between his eyes, which were -- also incredibly -- unharmed.