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Police now believe a farmer shot in the head while colleagues were trying to destroy a water buffalo was struck directly rather than from a freak ricochet.
The man, aged in his 60s, was still fighting for his life last night in Middlemore Hospital and had undergone surgery to remove the bullet after the accident on Tuesday.
The drama unfolded about midday when a group of four farming neighbours went in search of two water buffalo that had escaped from a truck on Monday.
The out-of-control beasts smashed through fences and one ran on to the road yesterday morning, causing a minor car accident.
The men found the buffalo on a a farm in Harrisville Rd, Pukekohe and two got out of the ute they were travelling in, to attempt to shoot and kill them.
It was initially thought the men had used one firearm and a bullet meant for the beasts had ricocheted off a tree, went through the roof of the vehicle and hit the man in the back of the head.
But Pukekohe Senior Sergeant Rob Arnold said two guns were involved and it appeared the men had used the roof of the ute as a platform to shoot.
A bullet went through the roof and hit the man in the back of the head.
Mr Arnold said police were still treating the shooting as an accident.
It was difficult to say whether any charges could be laid over the incident as police investigations were ongoing.
Forensic examiners had been at the scene all day trying to find the exact path the bullet took, Mr Arnold said.
Both gunmen were experienced deer hunters.
Police destroyed both water buffalo on Tuesday.
