I saw another picture of the sapling sort of "inside" what looked like a wedge resection, but oddly enough, it didn't appear to be in a bronchus. It did appear to have a cleanly cut base (which isn't visible in this pic)...
I figure, if anything, he inhaled a twig and did a good job of right main-stemming it or something. Given the complete lack of associated imaging studies (you know they'd shoot an x-ray, at least), and the relatively completely intact, clean and very green specimen, I'm inclined to think this is a hoax.
The green bit bothers me. I'm remembering something from botany about green plants needing sunlight and if you grow them in the dark they look all pale.... but I also didn't do too well in that class, so... I dunno.
DBH
