Boy lucky not to have lost eye in air weapon shooting say police

A TEENAGER narrowly missed losing an eye when he was shot in the face with an air weapon, police said yesterday.

The 15-year-old boy was playing with three friends at a pond in Worsley Mesnes, Wigan, when he was hit in the face with the pellet. It struck him just one inch from his right eye.

Neither the victim nor his friends saw who fired the weapon as the pond is surrounded by trees and undergrowth.

The boy was taken to Wigan Royal Infirmary, where the pellet was removed three days after the incident, which happened on 18 April.

PC Michael Dougill, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "This lad is very lucky in many ways – an inch to the left and he could have lost an eye.

"Air rifles are not toys and should never be pointed at another human being.

"Whoever did this obviously thought it would be fun to take potshots at innocent people. I can assure the offender it will be no laughing matter when we catch up with them.

"The area, known locally as the Red Pond, is popular with dog walkers, people fishing, camping and is a regular haunt for people with air weapons.

"I am confident that someone would have seen the offender, or someone acting suspiciously in that area, and I would ask them to get in touch."