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A farmer south of Auckland has been rushed to hospital with a gunshot wound to the head after a freak accident following an attempt to euthanise an injured water buffalo.
The man was taken to hospital following the accident at a farm in the rural community of Buckland, southeast of Pukekohe, about 1.15pm.
Counties Manukau police spokeswoman Ana-Mari Gates-Bowey said a group of four people drove to a farm to euthanise a water buffalo which was injured when hit by a car.
"One of the men got out and shot the buffalo, and hit it that time," Ms Gates-Bowey said.
"He then shot it a second time and missed. That bullet hit a tree, bounced back, came through the roof and hit the back seat passenger behind the driver in the head."
She was unsure how far it was from the tree to the car.
The victim, who is in his 60s, is in a critical condition in hospital.
- NZPA
