A 28-year-old Clyde man is lucky to be alive after being hit in the neck with a bullet fired from a .22 rifle.
The man, who asked not to be identified, was preparing a barbecue meal with friends on a veranda at the rear of his Hazlett St property on Sunday evening, when he heard gunfire from a .22 rifle.
He heard bullets ricochet at least twice before being struck in the neck by one. It did not break his skin.
Constable Mike Colligan, of Alexandra, said the man could have easily died.
"This could have very nearly been a fatal incident. A .22 rifle can kill someone no problem, so this guy is very lucky he wasn't even injured, and that the bullet bounced around before hitting him," Const Colligan said.
After being hit by the bullet, the man heard another two shots of gunfire going over his roof.
Const Colligan said the shots, most likely came from a rabbit shooter at the back of Clyde or on the Springvale side of State Highway 8.
"It was either someone rabbit shooting or setting a rifle in," he said.
Police urged people shooting in the area to be aware of an increased population at this time of year.
"There are guys who have been shooting around here for years and know what they're doing, but at this time of year there are also a lot of beginners from out of town.
"There's just too many people around," Const Colligan said.
