Boy, 15, fighting for life after being shot in tragic accident
A 15-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being shot in the back in what appears to be a tragic accident.
The teenager was shot at a property on Ilford-Sofala Road at Sofala, more than 230km north-west of Sydney, about 9.30am on Sunday.
Police are investigating reports a shotgun accidentally discharged after being left on the back of ute, which then rolled and hit something.
The incident was an “accidental discharge of a firearm”, a NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed to Yahoo7.
The wounded victim was first driven by four-wheel drive to meet an ambulance which met up with a second specialist ambulance team 10 kilometres away.
“He was then treated in that ambulance by paramedics and driven to Bathurst,” NSW Ambulance Parkes’ Inspector Peter Rolands said.
The boy was intubated, put on life support and into an induced coma as he was carefully moved into a helicopter at Bathurst Airport.
The teenager was then flown more than 200 kilometres by air ambulance to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead in Sydney’s northwest.
His family then drove three-and-a-half hours to be with him at the hospital.
The boy’s family made the 200-kilometre trip to Westmead by road, with more relatives due to arrive at the hospital later on Saturday.
The boy received a blood transfusion before he was put in an induced coma.
“All weapons should be monitored and kept an eye on by people of all ages,” Insp Rolands said.
Police from Orana-Mid Western have visited the scene at Sofala.
