Lucky teenager survives rifle bullet in skull

Cameron Rowland was back on his bike a day after being shot in the head. Picture / Otago Daily Times

Cameron Rowland will have a unique lucky charm - a .22 bullet which hit him in the head during a rabbit-hunting trip on Saturday.

The 15-year-old from Enfield in North Otago does not know what he will do with it, but when Oamaru police no longer need it as evidence, he will get it back.

His mother, Carolynn, reckons it is a lucky bullet, as her son was fortunate to survive. "It was better than winning Lotto," she said yesterday.

Cameron, a 15-year-old friend and a 35-year-old Christchurch man were hunting rabbits on Saturday morning on a neighbour's farm.

The Christchurch man let off a shot. Cameron, about 150m away, heard the bang and the bullet "whizzing - like going through trees".

It is thought the bullet ricocheted off something and then he felt "a thump" in the middle of the back of his head.

He told his friend he had been hit. His friend thought he was being funny and suggested Cameron play a joke on the man and pretend he had been shot.

Cameron was not joking. The bullet had hit his skull and gone about 3cm sideways. "I could feel a lump on the back of my head," he said.

Cameron's companions drove him to Oamaru Hospital, where staff x-rayed his head to see where the bullet had lodged and to make sure there was no major damage.

It took about an hour's treatment before the bullet was removed by making another incision in his scalp.

Yesterday, his head was heavily bandaged.

Carolynn Rowland was telephoned by police about 10.30am and told her son had been shot in the head, but was "okay".

She called to her husband, Peter, and rushed to the hospital.

"I was shocked. I didn't know how serious it was. I thought he could die or be paralysed," she said.

Mrs Rowland emphasised people needed to take care with firearms - her son's hunting party had broken the golden rule not to separate.

Oamaru police are continuing inquiries into the accident.

Sergeant Ross Lory said it was likely charges would be laid under the Firearms Act.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES