'A second chance at life': B.C. soccer player nearly killed by stray bullet in U.S. speaks to CTV News

Former Vancouver Whitecaps youth program player Nathan Demian was out celebrating an Ohio State victory that had propelled his top-ranked Buckeyes to soccer’s final four when he was struck by a stray bullet during a gun battle between two passing cars.

“It went through my right abdomen and then transversed through my whole body and then ended up on my back left side,” said Nathan, who is recounting the Dec. 7 shooting in Columbus to CTV News for the first time.

The 22-year-old was conscious and able to walk to the ambulance, so he figured his injuries were minor.

“I thought I was going to go play on Friday. Like, I thought they're just going to take the bullet out. I thought I would be fully back,” said Nathan.

But the young soccer player had massive internal injuries and nearly lost his life. His sister Anna, who is a family doctor in Langley, rushed to his bedside not knowing if her brother would make it.

“He almost died on the operating table with how much blood loss there was,” Anna said. While he survived the operation, he was warned that he may require a feeding tube and ostomy bag for the rest of his life. But his prognosis has changed dramatically.

“In contrast to how severe the injury was, the recovery has been nothing short of a miracle to witness,” said Anna. “The fact that he's walking, talking, moving and recovering is quite remarkable for sure.”

Demian made so much progress, he was released from hospital on Christmas Eve so he could spend the holidays back home with his family.

“I could cry tears of joy right now – just what that felt like to have him home and for him to be alive and well and to hear his voice again,” said Anna. “Those were those are moments you can't find words for really.”

While back home in Langley, Nathan was as active as he could be.

“Once I got out of hospital, every single day was like a huge jump, a huge jump, a huge jump, a huge jump. So, I can't be more thankful and grateful for how my recovery is going,” said Nathan, who added there is still a long road ahead that includes another major surgery to re-attach part of his small intestine.

 

He has returned to Columbus to prepare for that surgery. While the fierce competitor is disappointed he missed his team's appearance in the final four, Nathan knows how lucky he is. “Once I kind of knew that I probably should have died, I had a little bit more appreciation for just kind of being alive and kind of the miracle that that had happened.”

Demian is eager to start training with the Buckeyes again for the 2025 season, which begins in August.

“I would love to be back for the beginning of the year, that's my goal. And talking to the doctors, that's a realistic goal,” he said.

His sister believes if anyone can do it, Nathan can. “He continues to make strides that we couldn't have imagined. So we just continue to kind of not squash dreams, but actually just flow with them,” she said.

Regardless of whether he can return to the pitch for his final season with Ohio State, Demian says the experience has changed him.

“The fact that I'm here and the fact that I'm still alive and have a second chance at life is something that I definitely don't want to take for granted and don't want to waste," he said.

"I really want to try to put my best foot forward and be successful and make people's lives better in whatever I can do.”