Man left with bullet sticking out of head after shootout

An Iraqi man has been shot during a gunfight but hardly felt the impact that left a bullet protruding from his head.

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al-Rawi had just attended evening prayers at a Fallujah mosque when a battle broke out between Iraqi government troops and tribal forces.

As he tried to escape he was caught in the crossfire but said he was not immediately aware that he had been hit.

After fleeing the chaos Mr Al-Rawi noticed his head was sore and the projectile causing his discomfort was visible, protruding at least 5cm from the back of his skull.

He said after realising how narrowly he avoided death he went to hospital to have the bullet removed.

The image of a smiling Mr Al-Rawi with the bullet sticking out of his head went viral in the Middle East with many viewers suggesting it had been faked using Photoshop.