(WALES TWP) — A Michigan DNR officer is credited with saving the life of a Wales Township man Monday afternoon in St. Clair County’s Wales Township. Officer Ron Kovach was the first on the scene of a reported self-inflicted gunshot wound. The 51-year old victim, who works in a military capacity, was at his home doing laundry. His 9mm pistol was strapped to his leg when it fell out of the holster, hit the concrete floor and went off. A round from the pistol hit the victim’s right bicep and continued through this arm and went out the other side. DNR officials say that when Kovach arrived on scene, the victim had made his way from the home to outside and was laying on the grass bleeding profusely. Kovach took out a combat application tourniquet that DNR conservation officers carry on duty and applied it, stopping the bleeding. When emergency personnel arrived, the man’s condition had improved and he was stable. He was then taken to a local hospital where he was treated and later released. As is the protocol with all shooting incidents–the accident is being reviewed by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department.
