A drummer’s 31st birthday. A ladies night in Eston, Sask. Four 45-minute sets. A high-energy funk cover of Proud Mary as the last song. The song peaks with a final breakdown. As the drummer goes for his last bash on the snare his stick breaks, and its tip flies back and pierces his right eye.
These were the highs and lows Regina drummer Justin Hauck went through Saturday night with his band, The Bromantics.
Hauck was left with a laceration to his eye and a ruptured core that required immediate surgery.
“It was wild,” Hauck said in an interview this week.
Hauck said he was lucky there were some first responders in the crowd who told him to go to the nearest hospital immediately. A local was kind enough take him on the hour-long trek to Kindersley, Sask.
“That was really hard — just holding my eye, I don’t know what’s going to happen to my eyesight,” Hauck said.
By the time Hauck reached the hospital it was around 2 a.m. His 31st birthday was officially over.
“It was throbbing and hurting at that point because, I guess, the shock factor wore off,” he said.
Hauck said he was referred to a specialist in Saskatoon. After a CT scan there, he learned he had a ruptured eye. He was soon in surgery at City Hospital.
“They couldn’t wait. If they waited another eight hours, I could’ve lost all my eyesight,” he said.
A Regina drummer is unsure how much of his vision he will regain after a broken drumstick pierced his eye during a gig in Eston, Sask.
Hauck is now recovering, with stitches still in his eye.
“Thankfully I can see out of my right eye, but the vision is all weird and wonky. “
Hauck said he met with the doctor Thursday and was told he’s “on the right track,” but might need a bit more treatment. He said he’ll have a better idea in two weeks, but already feels lucky.
He said he’s broken sticks over his 20 years of playing, but never thought about a piece flying into his eye. He said many other drummers have messaged him saying it’s a new fear they hadn’t thought of.
“This will forever change my vision in my right eye, most likely,” he said.
Prior to his interview with CBC, Hauck hadn’t played his drums since that fateful Proud Mary. Hauck said he won’t stop, but will wear glasses or shades while playing from now on.
“With my luck, maybe the left stick would go into the other eye or something.”
He said the music community, friends and family members have shown him a lot of support. Jim Mitchell, the band’s bass player, has also been taking pictures and videos to document Hauck’s journey.
“Might as well document it while we’re at it. It’s a once in a lifetime kind of thing, hopefully. Knock on wood,” Hauck said.
