Boy, 15, fights for his life in hospital after being accidentally shot in the back with a shotgun

A teenage boy is fighting for his life in hospital after suffering a gunshot wound on his family property.

The 15-year-old was shot in the back during a hunting expedition on his property in Bathurst, in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales.

Emergency services were called to the rural property at around 9am on Sunday morning, where it is alleged an unattended firearm discharged in the back of a ute. 

The ute he was travelling in allegedly rolled backward and a sudden movement made the 12-gauge shotgun fire, Yahoo7 reported.

The teen was airlifted over 200km to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead for urgent medical care.

It is understood he was conscious when emergency services arrived, however was placed in an induced coma shortly thereafter.

The teen was airlifted over 200km to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead for urgent medical care

New South Wales Ambulance said paramedics stabilised him as best they could before flying him to the hospital.

‘He was then treated in that ambulance by paramedics and driven to Bathurst,’ Ambulance Parkes’ Inspector Peter Rolands said.

The boy was intubated, put on life support and received a blood transfusion before being put in the induced coma to travel. 

His family made the 3-and-a-half hour journey to Westmead from Bathurst to be by his side.  

His current condition is still unknown.   

The Orana-Mid Western Police District is investigating the incident, but note it appears to have been an accident.