Farmer breaks silence after boy, 8, is shot dead at his Cumbria farm ‘hunting’

A man has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter when an eight year old boy was fatally shot at a farm and the farmer who owns the farm has spoken out over the tragedy. 

The tragic incident took place around 2.50 pm on Saturday (September 28) near the A66, just north of Warcop, Cumbria, where emergency responders rushed to the site. Police managed to secure the firearm involved and the young victim was airlifted to the hospital.

Tragically, the boy succumbed to his injuries overnight after sustaining serious trauma to his head and face. Early reports suggest that he may have been hunting rabbits when the accident happened.

Following the shooting, a man in his 60s was initially arrested for assault and subsequently detained under suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

As inquiries continue, the man has since been granted police bail, with Cumbria Police appealing for anyone with information to step forward, reports Lancs Live.

Local residents express belief that the deadly firing was unintentional. Reportedly, The Sun states the individual was rabbit shooting with the landowner’s consent when the boy was shot.

The farmer, whose property became the scene of the horrific event and had given permission for them to be there, conveyed his profound distress, confessing: “I had to witness what happened. It’s deeply upsetting. My mother is in her 80s and ill.”

Meanwhile, commentary from a local mother indicates the village is awaiting full details. She remarked: “We don’t know fully what happened yet. I have heard that he didn’t go to the school in Warcop. I read earlier that it was an accidental discharge of the weapon.”

She further added the impact on the close-knit community: “A lot of us have kids of that age. It’s a very tight knit community.”

She remarked: “We all have kids at that school so there was panic this morning that it may have been someone we knew. I read an e-mail from our school saying the victim didn’t go there so we don’t know where they were from.”

“It is quite shocking and you really feel for the family. It is terrible news.”

Another parent expressed his concern, stating: “I’ve had my friends ask me this morning about it. It’s a sad thing to happen here but I don’t know the family.”

“It’s a quiet village but people have been quiet about it so far today.”

A local man from Brough recounted his experience as he drove past the scene, witnessing emergency services in action. Frank Chalmers, 73, described the situation: “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.”

He speculated on the gravity of the situation, saying: “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.”

Chalmers added that the area is “very, very rural”.