Police at the scene near Warcop, Cumbria, where an eight-year-old boy, suffered gunshot injuries (Image: Frank Chalmers / SWNS)
A young boy who died in a shooting at was “hunting for rabbits” when the tragedy occurred, it has emerged.
Emergency services rushed to the scene at around 2.50pm on Saturday to the property near the A66, north of Warcop, Cumbria.
A firearm was secured at the scene by police and the child, aged eight, was taken to hospital by air ambulance.
He died overnight having suffered injuries to his head and face.
According to , the man was on the land rabbiting with the child. A source told the publication: “They had permission to be on the land. There’s been an agreement in place for years for them to rabbit there.”
, who also works on the land, said: “It was a tragic accident. I feel so sorry for the family, our thoughts are with them. It’s deeply upsetting.”
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A man in his 60s was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault. He was taken to police custody and later held on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.
The man was later bailed as police continued their investigations.
Cumbria Police urged any witnesses to come forward.
A resident of nearby Brough told the PA news agency he was driving by the scene when he saw medics, police vans and a helicopter.
Frank Chalmers, 73, said: “I passed the farm at around about 3pm and I saw the helicopter with its rotors stopped and medics marching up the hill, a lot of police, maybe five police vans. One car was parked in the middle of an empty field.
“It all looked very serious. I think with that level of police presence it’s usually a dreadful incident like a death. They don’t usually turn out in that kind of force.”
The retiree said the area is “very, very rural”.