Perth student survives being shot in the face

A 21-year-old university student from Perth is lucky to be alive after being shot in the face while celebrating her graduation in the US.

Amy Matthews and a friend were on Bourbon Street in New Orleans when they became caught in a crossfire between two men.

"We didn’t even realise what we were in the middle of," Ms Matthews said.

The bullet entered her right cheek, shattering most of her teeth and her bottom jaw, before ripping her tongue open and coming out the top of her lip.

"Four centimetres higher or lower and I definitely wouldn't be talking to you today," she said.

Ms Matthews says her friend kept her calm while they waited for an ambulance to arrive, accompanied by two US Marines.

"She has supported me through every second and stayed with me in the emergency room, stayed up with me."

Ms Matthews faces multiple surgeries, including bone grafts, as part of her recovery, but she is mostly just happy to be alive.

"I’m definitely counting my lucky stars for sure," she said.

"I mean the surgeons came in and said it’s not everyday we get to see someone sitting up and talking to us just after they have been shot in the face."

Nine others were also wounded in the gunfire, two were critically injured.

Source: Nine News
Author: Nine News staff, Approving editor: Henri Paget