A prisoner has miraculously survived an accident in a workshop that left him skewered through the chest by a wooden stake.
Russian inmate Nikolai Z, 34, was seen tethered in a hospital operating theatre following the incident.
One gory image shows a plank of wood that split through the width of his body from left to right.
A pool of blood can be seen next to the entry and exit points of the wound after the frightening accident took place.
The man can be seen in the picture lying immobilised on a hospital bed with medical staff visible in the background.
Russian inmate Nikolai Z, 34, is pictured here tethered in a hospital operating theatre following the horrific incident
This image shows a general view of Penal colony number 14 in Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia, where the accident occurred
Nikolai had the length of the tree removed and is somehow still alive five days after the accident, according to reports.
The thick beam of wood pierced the prisoners torso the prisoner as he operated a timber machine in a jail workhouse in a Nizhny Novgorod penal colony.
The giant splinter spun loose and spiked his body from his left midriff to the right of his chest.
He was given immediate first aid at Penal Colony 14, but is still said to be in a serious condition and fighting for his life in hospital.
Although he has damage to his internal organs, the man is now said to be stable.
News outlet BAZA reported that a criminal investigation relating to the incident is underway as to how the accident happened and whether safety rules were broken.
It comes after a schoolboys leg was sucked into the propeller as he played at the back of the boat.
Charity Diamond had taken her children on a boating day with some friends at the Yellowtail Dam across Bighorn River in Montana for Labour Day weekend on September 1.
Her son Treyson Diamond had been playing with a friend at the rear of the boat when his right leg got caught in the propeller.
Treyson Diamond had been playing with a friend at the rear of the boat when his right leg got caught in the propeller
His mother said the life-jacket he was wearing saved him
The 11-year-old was rushed to hospital in a helicopter where he underwent emergency surgery and had 400 stitches to repair the many deep gashes in his leg.
The blades had not only slashed deep cuts into his leg, cutting an artery, but also slit Treysons life-vest off of him in the water.
Charity, who works as a realtor, said they were 15 miles into the rivers reservoir when the accident happened, and that one of her friends pulled him out of the water.
All of the adults on the boat helped to make a tourniquet, using towels and some rope from the boat to try to stop the bleeding.
The mom-of-two said they had no mobile reception on the boat and had to race back to the dock to call for help.
The family spent the next three days in the hospital while Treyson recovered from surgery.