Young Grady County Girl Hurt In Nail Gun Accident

A Grady County girl accidentally shot herself in the chest Monday night with a nail gun. It happened about ten miles East of Chickasha. Her mother credits Grady County Sheriff’s Deputy Corey Loftice with helping save her life.

Arlena England, 9, was helping her father and grandfather work on an addition to the family mobile home.  She accidentally shot herself with the nail gun, which shot a long nail into the left side of her chest.  

Her mother said the nail got as close as an inch and a half from her daughter’s heart. Grady Memorial doctors said Arlena had to be airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City. 

The problem was Arlena is terrified of heights and helicopters.  However, in the Grady Memorial Emergency Room, Deputy Loftice calmed her down by showing the tattoos on his arms. He also showed photos of him jumping out of helicopters for past Sheriff’s Department training. 

Arlena was airlifted to Children’s Hospital, where doctors extracted the nail, and put her on the road to full-recovery.  

Thursday afternoon, Arlena and Deputy Loftice re-united at the Grady County Sheriff’s Office, where he gave her a hug and a stuffed animal. 

Arlena’s mother Tracy said she appreciates Corey Loftice’s kindness. “You really don’t run into many people like that,” she said. “Keeping their word and everything, and that’s what he did.” 

Sheriff Jim Weir said he’s proud of his Deputy, and he thinks all of his Deputies would have gone over and above as well.