Father’s Day Appeal Ambassador Kelvin Tennant
Father's Day ambassador Kelvin Tennant shares his story.
The Alfred is grateful to Kelvin and his family for getting behind The Father's Day Appeal.
Father of three and grandfather of eight, 72-year-old Kelvin Tennant was the victim of a horrific random attack in Northern Victoria, having been shot three times in the head and chest in an unprovoked attack in 2017.
Kelvin arrived at The Alfred in a life threatening condition. He had two bullets removed, but doctors deemed it too risky to remove fragments from the third bullet in the right side of his face.
According to Kelvin, he is incredibly lucky the bullet fragments lodged where they did.
“If a few fragments had gone further, I could have slurred speech, balance problems and the right side of my face could be frozen,” he said.
“The doctor said to me they had never seen a scan like mine before.”
Two years on from the attack and Kelvin considers himself incredibly lucky.
“Everyone at The Alfred has been marvellous. Thanks to the incredible nurses and staff, I am alive and I am here with my family, watching my grandchildren grow up.”
Bullet fragments in Kelvin's brain scan
On February 18, 2017 Kelvin had just set off on a bike ride from Myrtleford to Wangaratta on the Myrtleford-Everton Rail Trail. Taking the chance to get away for the weekend and do what he loves, while his wife, who was battling lung cancer, had a girls’ weekend in Adelaide.
Kelvin wasn’t far down the track when he noticed an old dark-coloured car parked between trees to the side of the bike track and thought nothing of it. The boot was up and as Kelvin drew closer to the car a man got out of the driver’s side door and went around to the boot.
As Kelvin drew level with the car there was a loud noise “I just remember the bang, bang, bang, and I knew straight away I’d been shot. I also remember pleading with the gunman, asking “Why are you doing this to me?”
“I actually kept riding for a moment, the momentum of the bike was pushing me forward but then several metres down the track I fell. I remember thinking, I need to pretend I am dead so the shooter doesn’t come back and shoot me again, and so I exhaled loudly and then I blacked out.
“When the man started shooting, I felt it was all over…I am blessed for surviving.”
Kelvin’s ‘blessing’ came when two passing cyclists from the local area found him unconscious on the ground and called for help.
“It was a really hot day and when I regained consciousness there was a man shielding my eyes from the sun and asking if I was able to move. I told him not to worry, that I would be back on my bike and riding in no time!”
Kelvin laughs as he recounts this part of the story, as he clearly had no idea of the seriousness of his injuries.
Kelvin was hit in the right side of his head, the left side of his face and his chest.
Kelvin arrived at The Alfred in a life threatening condition. He had two bullets removed, but the doctors deemed it too risky to remove the bullet fragments from the third bullet in the right side of his head.
“The doctor said to me they had never seen a scan like mine before.”
According to Kelvin he is incredibly lucky the bullet fragments lodged where they did “If a few fragments had gone further I was told I could have slurred speech, balance problems and the right side of my face could be frozen.”
When Kelvin talks about his experience at The Alfred he is glowing in his praise.
This senseless crime is still being actively investigated by Victoria Police, who have no answers as to why Kelvin was targeted. In May this year they announced a $500,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and subsequent conviction of those responsible, at the discretion of the Victoria Police Chief Commissioner. If you have any information about this crime you can call CrimeStoppers.
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