When a person sustains a mortal wound, the wound must cause death or soon thereafter. It need not be instantaneous, but must be a result of the wound. However, the Wikipedia article does leave room for speculation. Here are some examples of mortal wounds. The most obvious one is a gunshot wound.
He was mortally wounded
To be mortally wounded means to suffer an injury that will lead to death. The term derives from the human word “mortal,” which means “dead” in Greek. Mortality is a very important concept to grasp. Mortality refers to the human mortality of one’s self.
According to Wikipedia, a mortal wound is a wound that would have been fatal had it not been treated in time. This word is often used to describe a wound that would have been fatal if not treated in time. In other words, a mortal wound would have killed the person, if it had been treated immediately.
Luttrell was among four members of a Navy SEAL team conducting a reconnaissance mission in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan. The team was operating at a height of about 10,000 feet. The team members included Lt. Michael Murphy, Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny Dietz, and Sonar Technician 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew Axelson. He was carrying a local national, Ahmad Shah, along with his crew, on a reconnaissance mission.