Boy, 9, 'accidentally shoots himself dead' while hunting with dad
A young boy has died while on a hunting trip with his dad.
Gunnar Holte, 9, is believed to have accidentally shot and killed himself while pheasant hunting with his father, Nebraska police told local media.
The boy was reloading his shotgun when his father heard it fire, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office told KLKN.
When the father turned around, he saw his son lying on the ground.
He rushed to his side, along with an off-duty police officer who happened to be hunting in the same area, before administering CPR while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.
The young boy later died in hospital on Sunday (local time).
“It’s just a very tragic incident,” police captain Tom Brookhouser told the Journal Star.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family.”
A GoFundMe page raising money for funeral costs and family support has surpassed its goal of US$25,000 (AU$35,000).
“Please help us bless the Holte family as they grieve the unexpected loss of their son, Gunnar,” the page says.
“Gunnar always had a cheerful disposition in all weather. Our family will miss him greatly,” one donor wrote on the GoFundMe campaign.
On a Nebraska fishing and hunting group on Facebook, dozens of locals offered prayers and well-wishes to the grieving family.
“Dear God with hearts so broken we have no words. We pray your comfort on this family, friends, and the outdoors family of this great land,” one person said.
“Prayers to the family, my son is about his age and just felt my heart crushed finding out the kid didn't make it,” another wrote.
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