MOOSERIDER magazine: Lt. Col. Karl Trenker shot during heist plugged holes with fingers and told kids he'd be fine

Lt Colonel Trenker added: ‘I go to Iraq and Afghanistan multiple times, and I haven't been shot or blown up, and I'm here at home in Florida.

Last updated at 8:02 PM on 27th December 2011

A U.S. Marine officer has told the incredible story of how he survived a street robbery by plugging bullet holes in his body with his fingers.

Lieutenant Colonel Karl Trenker, 29, of Miramar, Florida, was shot three times as he confronted two men who had stolen a gold chain from him.

He said he used his battlefield training from Afghanistan and Iraq to stem blood from chest wounds by shoving his finger into the gaping wound. ...

As he showed off the necklace one of the men shoved him and grabbed the jewellery.

Lt Colonel Trenker said he chased after the two men when one of them turned round and opened fire, hitting him multiple times.

He said he plugged the bullet holes while calling his girlfriend on his cell phone and calmly telling her: ‘I've been shot.’

‘He's talking to me just as calmly as I'm sitting here talking.

‘He told me: “I've been shot three times, my fingers are in the bullet holes, the police are going to take care of the kids".'

Officers responding to the shooting found 20-year-olds James Flournoy and Jeff Steele close to the scene.

MOOSERIDER magazine