Former Major League Baseball star Jose Canseco has broken down in a television interview after accidentally shooting off his own finger, narrowly missing his fiancee. The 51-year-old was cleaning a gun at his Las Vegas home on Tuesday when it discharged, blowing off his middle finger.
In an interview with Inside Edition, Canseco became emotional as he recounted the incident. 'At first I heard it go off and I actually grabbed the gun and put it on the table,' he said. 'I thought nothing had happened. Then I look at my hand and my finger’s blown off.'
Canseco's fiancee, swimsuit model Leila Knight, was standing nearby and narrowly avoided being hit by the bullet. 'I’m just glad nothing happened to her,' Canseco said. Knight called 911 and wrapped his hand in a towel before paramedics arrived.
Doctors reattached the finger in emergency surgery, but Canseco has been told he will never regain full use of his left hand. Knight said the finger was 'hanging by a thread' and doctors considered amputation before opting for reconstructive surgery.
Canseco, a six-time All-Star who hit 462 career home runs, played for several teams including the Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, and New York Yankees. He later admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs during his career.
