Warning: This article contains graphic images.
An Indonesian teenager is lucky to be alive after a freak fishing accident saw him impaled by a fish.
Muhammad Idul, from the Wakinamboro province in South East Sulawesi, was out fishing on Saturday night when a needlefish leapt out of the water and speared him through the neck.
Needlefish have long narrow beaks capable of causing deep puncture wounds, and can jump out of the water at speeds of up to 60km/h.
The 16-year-old fell from his boat, but managed to swim to the surface and walk home with his right hand gripping the fish, reports local news site Coconuts.
Its snout was stuck in his neck, preventing him from bleeding out.
He was taken to a nearby hospital but the doctor there did not dare to attempt to remove the fish, due to limited equipment.
Idul was then transferred to a larger hospital to undergo a delicate surgical procedure and remove the fish from his throat.
He is under close supervision to ensure he doesn't contract any infections.
Injuries like Idul's are rare but not unheard of. In 2018, a Thai naval officer was killed after a needlefish impaled itself in his collarbone.
