A former LSU football player has had his left leg amputated following a bizarre hunting accident in which a dog accidently fired a shotgun.

According to the Clarion-Ledger, the incident happened when Matt Branch, an offensive lineman for the Tigers from 2009-11, was duck hunting with friends near Vicksburg, Miss., on Dec. 28. While Branch and his companions were loading their Polaris Ranger ATV with supplies, Branch placed his shotgun — loaded but with the safety on — in the Ranger’s bed.

A golden retriever then leapt onto the ATV’s bed and stepped on the gun’s trigger, causing it to go off. Branch was hit in the left thigh, and rushed to a Vicksburg hospital for emergency treatment.

Branch, 29, was later transferred to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, where he remains in intensive care. Doctors amputated the leg earlier this week, according to the report, but Branch is expected to make a full recovery otherwise.

Branch, a native of Monroe, La., was a member of LSU’s 2011 SEC championship team, which lost to Alabama in the BCS national title game. He played tackle, guard and tight end before injuries ended his career after three seasons.