Teen shot in ‘freak accident’ during clay pigeon shooting

A teenager is fighting for her life after being shot in a freak accident at a Scottish gun club.

The victim, a 19-year-old woman, suffered gunshot wounds to the hip and stomach after she was hit by a stray shot from a teammate during a clay pigeon competition on Sunday.

She was treated by a specialist trauma team at the scene in Tarbert, Argyll, and flown to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

There were no suspicious circumstances to be suspected, the police said.

According to the Scottish Sun, the woman believed to have accidentally fired the shot is a gun club member, believed to be in her 40s.

Both had taken part in the event at the Tarbert Shooting Club on Sunday.

It is understood the women were on the same team and taking part in the Winter League competition when the incident occurred around 90 minutes into the tournament.

A source close to the incident said: “It was a complete freak accident, everyone is completely devastated.” There’s nothing untoward about it at all. It was a crazy thing that happened. The gun just went off.”

Alastair Redman, councilor for Kintyre and the Islands, said: “Tragically, accidents still happen.”

He added: “This is a huge shock – our thoughts and prayers are with my constituent who was injured in this tragic accident and her family. “Accidents like this are rare and the gun handlers behave in a very professional and safe manner.”

The shooting club, based on the banks of Loch Fyne, says on its website that it has “qualified instructors” and offers “safe and enjoyable clay pigeon shooting”. They not only offer shootings for their members, but also organize bachelor parties and company days.

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We received a call to attend an incident in Tarbert on December 3rd. An ambulance and a rescue aircraft with a trauma team were dispatched to the scene and a patient was transported by air to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.”

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