This octogenarian was lucky to survive after accidentally impaling herself in the neck with a 40cm flat-head screwdriver and piercing her aorta.

US doctors say the injury occurred while the woman was removing pool cover fasteners, although the exact mechanism was not described.

“On arrival, about 10cm of the screwdriver shaft was externally visible in the right lower neck with blood-stained gauze around the screwdriver shaft, but no external pulsatile bleeding,” they wrote in BMJ Case Reports.

“She was alert (Glasgow Coma 15), phonating normally, without hoarseness, stridor or respiratory distress.”