My Dad did that with a brand-new Wham-O Wrist Rocket Slingshot he gave me for my 12th birthday.
He was shooting it at a dogfish in a side ditch in February in Northern Indiana the day I got it...
Whacked himself in the thumbnail with a marble, he'd pulled it 'way back.
I had to wade the ditch to get the slingshot back after he pitched it in the drink.
I learned a few new words that day too.
2-3 days later, his thumbnail fell off.
I sure miss him.