Boy, 12, accidentally shot in face by friend in freak farm accident
A 12-year-old boy has undergone emergency surgery after he was accidentally shot in the face by his friend.
Shrapnel pierced Tom Ing’s cheek, jaw and shoulder when a bullet ricocheted after his friend was told to put the gun back in its safe.
The shooting happened on a rural property near Young last night, triggering a remote medical emergency.
Police say the father of Tom’s friend had asked the boys to return the .22 calibre rifle before it discharged.
As an ambulance rushed Tom from Thuddungra to Young hospital, the Air Retrieval Medical Team was scrambled at Orange.
The ambulance chopper arrived within 30 minutes, before flying Tom to the Children's Hospital at Westmead.
As Tom remains in a stable condition with his family by his side, Police Minister Troy Grant issued a warning about how severe the consequences can be.
"We have very tough rules about the safe handling and storage of firearms and if you break those rules the consequences are severe," he added.
Cootamundra Police Acting Superintendent Frank Brown said a crime scene has been set up and further investigations into what went so horribly wrong had commenced.
"If there is evidence to suggest that prosecutions should take place we will look at that,” he told 7 News.
"As we are taught as police treat all firearms if they are loaded.”
