A wife has survived after her husband accidentally shot her in the mouth with a harpoon.

Officials in Rio de Janeiro said Elisangela Borborema Rosa's husband was cleaning his spear gun when it went off, firing a harpoon that went through her mouth and cervical spine.

The 28-year-old was rushed to hospital and underwent emergency surgery after the accident on Monday in the coastal city of Arraial do Cabo.

Neurosurgeon Allan da Costa was quoted in a statement from Rio de Janeiro's health department as saying the harpoon came within 1cm of killing the woman - but that he expects a full recovery.

A police spokeswoman said officials were looking into the case.

"Everything indicates it was an accident, but we are investigating," she said.

"We don't think the husband tried to kill her. But once she fully recovers we will be able to question her and get a clearer picture of what happened."

It comes just a fortnight after X-ray images emerged of Brazilian man Bruno Coutinho, who miraculously avoided any brain damage after shooting himself through the eye with a six-inch harpoon.

http://news.sky.com/story/1088569/brazil-harpoon-accident-woman-shot-in-mouth