diff --git a/src/game-v4.js b/src/game-v4.js
index 6cf7b14..58d9547 100644
--- a/src/game-v4.js
+++ b/src/game-v4.js
@@ -373,6 +373,7 @@ class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     }
 
     this.processPlayerHits();
+    this.ensureLivePlayerState();
     if (this.gameState !== 'playing') {
       this.drawHud();
       this.publishHudState();
@@ -691,27 +692,26 @@ class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   playPlayerHitReaction(damage = PIRATE_SHOT_DAMAGE) {
     if (!this.player?.active) return;
 
-    this.tweens.killTweensOf(this.player);
-    this.player.setAlpha(1);
     this.player.setTint(0xffd7d7);
-
-    this.tweens.add({
-      targets: this.player,
-      alpha: 0.45,
-      duration: 65,
-      yoyo: true,
-      repeat: 1,
-      ease: 'Quad.easeOut',
-      onComplete: () => {
-        if (!this.player?.active) return;
-        this.player.setAlpha(1);
-        this.player.clearTint();
-      },
+    this.time.delayedCall(110, () => {
+      if (this.player?.active && this.gameState === 'playing') this.player.clearTint();
     });
 
     this.cameras.main.shake(120, clamp(0.0035 + damage * 0.00055, 0.004, 0.012));
   }
 
+  ensureLivePlayerState() {
+    if (this.gameState !== 'playing' || this.playerHull <= 0 || !this.player) return;
+
+    if (!this.player.active) this.player.setActive(true);
+    if (!this.player.visible) this.player.setVisible(true);
+    if (this.player.alpha !== 1) this.player.setAlpha(1);
+
+    if (this.player.body && !this.player.body.enable) {
+      this.player.body.enable = true;
+    }
+  }
+
   buildHudState() {
     const player = this.player;
     if (!player) return null;
diff --git a/tests/wiring.test.mjs b/tests/wiring.test.mjs
index 1a9b45a..f90817e 100644
--- a/tests/wiring.test.mjs
+++ b/tests/wiring.test.mjs
@@ -208,9 +208,9 @@ test('processed player hits drive sprite and HUD hit reactions', async () => {
 
   assert.match(game, /this\.playerHitSequence \+= 1/);
   assert.match(game, /playPlayerHitReaction\(damage = PIRATE_SHOT_DAMAGE\)/);
-  assert.match(game, /alpha: 0\.45/);
-  assert.match(game, /repeat: 1/);
+  assert.match(game, /this\.player\.setTint\(0xffd7d7\)/);
   assert.match(game, /this\.cameras\.main\.shake\(120/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(game, /targets: this\.player/);
   assert.doesNotMatch(game, /scaleX: this\.playerBaseScaleX/);
   assert.match(hud, /steam-player-card\.steam-hit/);
   assert.match(hud, /pulsePlayerHit\(state\.player\.hitSequence \?\? 0\)/);
@@ -224,3 +224,15 @@ test('processed pirate shots are consumed and later projectiles start clean', as
   assert.match(source, /for \(const impact of hits\) \{[\s\S]*?if \(impact\.shot\?\.active\) impact\.shot\.destroy\(\)/);
   assert.match(source, /if \(shot\.getData\('playerHitQueued'\)\) return/);
 });
+
+
+test('non-lethal damage preserves the live player sprite and body', async () => {
+  const source = await read('src/game-v4.js');
+
+  assert.match(source, /this\.processPlayerHits\(\);\s*this\.ensureLivePlayerState\(\)/);
+  assert.match(source, /if \(this\.gameState !== 'playing' \|\| this\.playerHull <= 0 \|\| !this\.player\) return/);
+  assert.match(source, /if \(!this\.player\.active\) this\.player\.setActive\(true\)/);
+  assert.match(source, /if \(!this\.player\.visible\) this\.player\.setVisible\(true\)/);
+  assert.match(source, /if \(this\.player\.alpha !== 1\) this\.player\.setAlpha\(1\)/);
+  assert.match(source, /if \(this\.player\.body && !this\.player\.body\.enable\)/);
+});