Student shot in the eye in Pakistan has bullet removed through his NOSE, thanks to pioneering surgery in the U

A student shot in the face in Pakistan has had the bullet removed through his nose in pioneering surgery carried out by a Birmingham medic. Ummad Farooq, 22, underwent the one-hour operation at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Edgbaston - potentially saving his sight. Leading ear nose and throat consultant Shahzada Ahmed removed the bullet using a Cyclops, a new instrument that enables the surgeon to see better and carry out operations quicker.

 

Ummad Farooq, 22, was shot in the eye during an ambush at his brother's wedding in Karachi. British surgeons have restored his sight using pioneering surgical instruments

Mr Farooq, who had been studying finance at Sunderland University, is now recovering at the privately-run BMI Edgbaston Hospital after supporters back home paid for his treatment. He said: 'I’m very grateful for what Mr Ahmed has done. Doctors in my country said surgery was too risky.

'When I came here the bullet was still lodged just under my right eye causing double vision. But after surgery on Sunday I am seeing things much clearer now.' His nightmare began after he flew out from the UK to Karachi for his brother Saad’s wedding. What should have been a joyous family occasion soon turned to tragedy when the brothers, their father and two other relatives were ambushed on October 19.  Saad, 26, was shot dead at the scene while Ummad’s father was pumped with six bullets - but survived.

 

Well-wishers in Pakistan rallied to fund Mr Farooq's treatment in the UK and consultant surgeon Mr Shahzada Ahmed removed the bullet the bullet using a Cyclops, a new instrument that enables the surgeon to see better and carry out operations quicker

The finance student explained: 'My father is the president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Karachi and the hierarchy of this group has been a target as it is not a recognised religion in Pakistan. 'As a result we were targeted. My brother died at the scene and I was hit in the eye. I couldn’t see and didn’t realise that my father had also been shot six times. He drove us to a hospital 15km away where doctors told me they couldn’t remove the bullet. My father still has five bullets lodged inside him, but is not in a critical condition. We were all moved to a safe house, and my community decided to fund my treatment in the UK.'

Ummad was flown to Birmingham on October 27 and underwent the operation on Sunday. It is the same hospital where Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, 15, is also being treated after being shot in the head by the Taliban. Consultant Mr Ahmed said: 'I have never used the Cyclops in this way and it is quite unique to remove a bullet through a patient’s nose. However, leaving the bullet inside Ummad, meant there was a possibility that he could have gone blind, or that the area would have become infected.'

Source: Daily Mail UK 

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