Police have established that a duck-shooting incident, in which a 10-year-old Tarras boy's right hand was seriously injured, was accidental.
Sergeant Mike Williams, of Cromwell, said a police investigation into the shooting accident, which happened at a Tarras farm on Sunday, was nearing completion.
"We've ruled out a number of [circumstances]. It seems the young fellow dropped his firearm and it went off and caused the injury," Sgt Williams said.
Police had spoken to the boy's father and intended to travel to Christchurch to interview the boy's uncle.
The three family members were out together on a duck-hunting excursion at the time of the accident, Sgt Williams said.
The boy's father held a firearms licence and, as such, was deemed to be the person responsible for supervising those without licences who were handling weapons during the hunt, Sgt Williams said.
The boy was carrying a .410 shotgun and the firearm had been sent to a police armoury for analysis to check the weapon for faults, Sgt Williams said.
A Dunedin Hospital patient inquiries spokeswoman said the boy remained in the children's ward and was progressing well.
The accident is the second hunting incident at Tarras to be investigated by police in the past few weeks, after two Christchurch men received facial injuries from shotgun pellets on the opening day of the duck-shooting season.
