Florida man shoots himself, doesn't notice for two days

DELTONA, Fla., May 10 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said a man accidentally shot himself while cleaning his gun and didn't notice the wound until he changed his shirt two days later.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to a report of a shooting victim Saturday at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City and they spoke with Deltona resident Michael Blevins, 37, who had checked himself in to the hospital with a bullet wound.

Blevins told deputies he was cleaning his .22 caliber pistol Thursday in the living room of his home and he was holding the gun close to his chest to prevent his dog from jumping near it.

The man said he felt a sharp pain in his back from a previous injury when he tried to stand up and ended up falling face down.

Blevins said the gun fired and he struck his head on the edge of a glass coffee table.

He said he did not believe the bullet had struck him until Saturday, when he removed his long-sleeved black shirt and discovered the bullet's entry and exit wounds on his arm.

Blevins said the medication he takes for his back injury may have prevented him from feeling any pain from the gunshot.

Investigators accompanied Blevins to his home and determined his description of the incident was accurate.

"The shooting was deemed accidental," a police report stated. "Case is closed."