South Sudanese Man Survives Near-Fatal Gunshot Wounds in Remarkable Recovery at TopHill Hospital

In what doctors are calling a “miracle,” South Sudanese national Stephan is on the road to recovery after surviving a brutal gun attack that left him with three life-threatening bullet wounds to the chest.

The 34-year-old, a member of the Toposa community, was ambushed by three armed men on Friday evening while returning home on his motorbike in Toboso, South Sudan. Stephan says he was stopped and accused of “shining light” on the assailants with his headlamp. Despite apologizing, one of the men, armed with an AK-47 rifle, opened fire.

“Three bullets hit me—two in the chest and one through the lung,” Stephan recalled. “I fell down, everything went dark, and I thought I was dying. I cried out to God for another chance because I have a wife and two children who need me.”

Despite severe bleeding and fading consciousness, Stephan managed to walk nearly 100 meters and call a friend for help. Forty-five minutes later, a rescue team arrived and rushed him to a nearby facility, but due to the seriousness of his condition, he was referred multiple times — from Lokichoggio to Lodwar, and eventually to TopHill Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.

By the time he arrived at TopHill, Stephan's condition had worsened. He had lost significant blood, his lungs had collapsed, and he was struggling to breathe.

"A Miracle Patient"

Dr. Florentius Koech, the lead surgeon and CEO of TopHill Hospital, described Stephan’s survival as nothing short of miraculous.

“He had three gunshot injuries — two on the right side of the chest and one on the left. One bullet was just millimeters from the heart and another above the liver. He was in critical condition, without a ventilator, and had been bleeding internally for over 12 hours,” said Dr. Koech.

The medical team immediately stabilized his breathing, inserted chest tubes to drain fluid and air, and rushed him to surgery to clean the lungs and control internal bleeding. He spent nine days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) before being transferred to the ward.

“He came in with lungs that were no longer functioning and injuries that would kill most patients. It is truly by the grace of God that he survived,” Dr. Koech said.

A Story of Faith and Gratitude

From his hospital bed, Stephan expressed deep gratitude to the medical team at TopHill Hospital, praising their expertise, compassion, and tireless care.

“The doctors, led by Dr. Koech, are God-sent. They brought me back to life. I can now breathe normally, walk, sit, and eat without help. This hospital is a blessing,” said Stephan. “I believe God used these doctors to save me.”

He also thanked the nurses who encouraged him during his recovery, recalling a moment when one nurse challenged him to walk to the nursing station. “That day, I stood up and walked. I was so happy. They made me believe in life again,” he added.

Now on the mend, Stephan is expected to be discharged in the coming days. Though still in pain, he is hopeful and determined to rebuild his life.

As Dr. Koech concluded: “Stephan is not just a survivor—he is a symbol of resilience, faith, and the power of timely, quality medical care.”