Cumbria Police have an issued an update after a man was arrested when a boy was shot in the face(Image: No credit)

Farmer breaks silence after tragic farm shooting in Cumbria leaves 8 year old boy dead

A man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after an eight year old boy was shot dead at a farm near the A66, north of Warcop, Cumbria

02 Oct 2024, 01:14 by Zasha Whiteway-Wilkinson, Jon Macpherson · The Mirror

Following the tragic death of a young boy on his farm in Cumbria, a landowner has expressed his devastation.

The emergency services rushed to the scene near the A66, north of Warcop, Cumbria, at about 2.50pm on Saturday (September 28), where they found the young lad with severe head and face injuries. Despite being airlifted to hospital, the boy tragically passed away overnight.

A man has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter following the tragic shooting, reports Lancs Live.

Reports suggest the child may have been rabbit hunting when he was shot. A man in his 60s was initially arrested for assault at the scene but was later detained on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

Cumbria Police are now appealing for witnesses as their investigation continues. The local community is reeling from the incident, with many believing it to be a horrific accident.

Reports suggest the child may have been rabbit hunting when he was shot( Image: Facebook)

Despite being airlifted to hospital, the boy tragically passed away overnight.

It's understood that the man had permission to shoot rabbits in the field when the tragedy unfolded, as reported by The Sun.

The landowner expressed his devastation, stating: "I had to witness what happened. It's deeply upsetting. My mother is in her 80s and ill."

Meanwhile, a village mum shared the community's shock: "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."

Police at a farm in the Warcop area of Cumbria( Image: No credit)

She added, reflecting the sentiments of the close-knit village: "A lot of us have kids of that age. It's a very tight knit community."

She said: "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."

Police were called to reports that a child was injured with a firearm at a property in Warcop on Saturday( Image: No credit)

A third man, also a parent, commented: "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."

Meanwhile, a Brough local recounted his experience as he drove past the scene, witnessing emergency services in action. Frank Chalmers, 73, remarked: "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 added: "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 pensioner noted that the area is "very, very rural".