Ex-LSU O-lineman has leg amputated after being shot by dog

Former LSU offensive lineman Matt Branch lost one of his legs and is in intensive care following a hunting accident in Mississippi.

Micah Heckford, a friend of Branch's, told Brian Broom of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger that they were loading up their vehicles during a group hunting trip on Dec. 28 when Branch was shot by a dog.

Heckford said the dog, a Labrador retriever named Tito, jumped onto the bed of a truck, stepped on the safety of Branch's shotgun, and pulled the trigger. The shotgun shell went through the bed of the truck and struck Branch's left thigh.

"The gun shot," Heckford said. "Everybody looked up. The first thing I saw was Matt and within two to three seconds he realized he was hit."

The group took Branch to a road that was accessible to first responders. Heckford then applied pressure to Branch's wound to slow the bleeding.

"I think that's when it hit me how serious it was," Heckford said. "It was at that point in time I realized how much he had bled. His pants were just soaked in blood."

Branch was later transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Heckford said Branch had his left leg amputated and has undergone several surgeries, but is expected to recover.

Branch played for the Tigers from 2009-2011.