Rifle found buried in Adelaide playground

Parents were reeling after the shocking discovery of a rifle found buried under a slippery dip in an Adelaide playground at the weekend.

They fear there could have been a tragedy if the weapon ended up in the hands of a child.

Byron Deak was walking his dog on Saturday morning when he saw police officers searching the Seacliff park playground.

The rifle was found under the slippery dip. Photo: 7 News
The rifle was found under the slippery dip. Photo: 7 News

“I walked past and said "is everything alright?" and he said, "we've just found a gun," Mr Deak told 7 News.

He was shocked at what he saw.

Byron Deak saw officers searching the playground on Saturday morning. Photo: 7 News
Byron Deak saw officers searching the playground on Saturday morning. Photo: 7 News

“You could see it, just sticking out under the slippery dip out of the bark,” he said.

It was a sawn-off .22 calibre rifle found by a father walking with his son.

News of the discovery left local parents rattled.

“I'm in shock... That's so close to my children's homing, schooling,” one mother said.

A father told 7 News: “My boys have water pistols so it's easy for my child to mistake it for a water pistol and...game over”.

One mother said she shocked at how close the rifle was to where her children play. Photo: 7 News
One mother said she shocked at how close the rifle was to where her children play. Photo: 7 News

Another mother said “any parents back could have been turned and their kid could've been gone”.

The firearm has been seized and was undergoing forensic and ballistic testing.

Officers were trying to work out whether it had been involved in any other crimes.

“The officer said he could tell that it had been sawn off so he was thinking it might have been used in a robbery,” Mr Deak said.

Related videos

Shocking discovery at a Thornlie park

Eastern Brown captured near busy playground

Melbourne community shattered by playground arson