Former LSU lineman Matt Branch had his leg amputated after he was accidentally shot by his dog during a hunting trip in Mississippi, his friend recounted toThe Clarion Ledger.

Micah Heckford tellsThe Clarion Ledger that he and several others were on an annual duck hunting trip near Eagle Lake when Matt Branch was accidentally hit by a blast from his shotgun, which was left loaded in the bed of a pickup truck.

Heckford says a Labrador, named Tito, jumped onto the truck bed and "stepped on the safety of Branch’s shotgun and pulled the trigger." He says the 12-gauge shotgun shell fired through the side of the truck and hit Branch’s left thigh.

After the shot, Heckford said everyone looked up and realized Branch was hit within a few seconds. The group scrambled to get Branch medical treatment. They took him closer to a road, where medical personnel could access them.

"I think that's when it hit me how serious it was," Heckford said. "It was at that point in time I realized how much he had bled. His pants were just soaked in blood."

Heckford said Branch has since had the leg amputated and is expected to recover.

Branch played for LSU from 2009–2011 and appeared in 28 games before his career was cut short by injury. A GoFundMe was set up to help Branch and his family with expenses.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.