COVINGTON (Louisiana) - R.J. RICHARD says he doesn't normally put his mobile phone in his chest pocket. But he says it saved his life the one time he did.

The 68-year-old man from Covington, Louisiana, was mowing the lawn on his 2-hectare property when a stray bullet from nearby woods struck that cell phone. He figured a rock kicked up by his tractor hit him. That is, until he took out the phone and a .45-calibre bullet fell from its case.

Mr Richard told The Times-Picayune of New Orleans he doesn't think it was a coincidence, either.

'I look at this as God telling me to put my cell phone in that pocket, and I'm grateful and humbled,' he said.

Doctors told Mr Richard the bullet came at an angle, which along with the mobile phone probably prevented serious injury.

Deputies are investigating the case, St Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain said. He said the case should serve as a serious warning that people should consider the consequences before firing a gun.

However, Sheriff Strain said investigators do not believe the shooting was intentional. -- AP