By Pete McIntyre / KISS FM Vernon

Okanagan shooting victim recounts “life changing” incident

Oct 3, 2017 | 3:20 PM

VERNON, B.C. — An Okanagan man continues his recovery after getting shot in the Las Vegas massacre Sunday night.

Braden Matejka says on social media, he and his girlfriend were running to avoid the bullets when it felt like someone had “hit him with a sledge hammer in the back of the head.”

The Lake Country resident, who grew up in Enderby and works in Vernon, was shot in the back of the head, but survived with the help of people at the scene. Someone tied a shirt around the wound, and another person drove him to a hospital to receive care.

Matejka says doctors are keeping him in hospital another day or two to ensure the bleeding from his brain has stopped.

The attack killed 59 people including four Canadians, and left more than 500 people injured.

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Matejka’s full account of the incident is below, as posted on his Facebook page.

26 hours ago my life changed, my girlfriend and I were attending the route 91 festival, as we heard what we thought were fire crackers going off. People started ducking and running. I said don’t worry babe no ones shooting at us. As the gunman ran out of shells in his first round he started to open up again. As I seen someone in front of me get shot trough the chest, I grabbed Amanda and said get the f**k down now. She states that I was pulling her so hard that she felt like her feet weren’t even on the ground.

We kept running to a tent, where there were numerous people inside ducking for cover. As the gunman started peppering the tent we grabbed tables and flipped them over. When the bullets didn’t stop coming down on us and hitting the tables it was time to make a run for it. As soon as we started running again I hit the ground full sprint on my face, it felt as if someone hit me with a sledge hammer in the back of the head. I got up and yelled for Amanda, saying I’ve been shot. She looks and the whole back of my shirt was covered in blood. Blood spurting from the hole in which I had been shot. We started running holding my head, dizzy and rattled I wasn’t sure where to go.

We got to cover again and went under the back side of the covers. These four random people, helped save me this day. As the in guy ripped his shirt off and tied it around my skull, another one waving down s car. The police had no idea what to do at the time so this kind young lady drove like a bat out of hell to then closest hospital which then I was rushed into the OR and had my skull looked at.

They are keeping me till tomorrow or the next day to make sure that my brain has stopped bleeding.

To say the least this was the most terrifying thing I have ever experienced. My deepest condolences to the many people that didn’t make it. Seeing so many people getting brought to the hospital, passing away beside me. Watching people being hunted down like cats. It sickens me.

I would like to say thank you to everyone of my friends and family members who have shown so much love and compassion for me. My amazing girl who has been by my side this whole time. Everyone…. thank you in this time of need.