Man Accidentally Shoots Himself In Presence Of His Son While Cleaning Rifle

A man in Thailand was severely injured after he accidentally shot himself while cleaning a rifle at his home.

The police and medics arrived at an apartment in Muang district on Tuesday night and found the man, identified as 42-year-old Thammarat Kaewkomonman, lying in a pool of blood on the floor of his bedroom, with a gunshot wound on the left side of his chest and an exit hole in his back, media outlet Bangkok Post reported.

The officers found a rifle beside him. The magazine had a spent shell apart from four cartridges. The severely wounded man was rushed to a local hospital for treatment, the media outlet reported.

Investigation revealed the man’s teenage son was playing video games with his friends in the same room when the incident took place.

The teen told the officers his father was cleaning the rifle on the other side of the room. He turned around upon hearing a gunshot and found his father lying on the floor with a gunshot wound. The teen immediately called the police.

Investigators concluded the man was cleaning the weapon when it accidentally got discharged, striking him in the chest. Thammarat had forgotten to unload the rifle before starting to clean it, Thailand Tip reported.

Officers found several BB guns in the showcase. The teenager told the investigators Thammarat was a gun enthusiast and had a collection.

The victim remained in the hospital as of Wednesday morning and his condition remained unknown.

In a similar incident in Indiana last year, an off-duty police officer accidentally shot his wife while cleaning his gun at their home. Officers arrived at the home and found a 33-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to her leg. She was taken to a hospital and was listed stable. Investigation revealed the off-duty police officer was cleaning his personal gun, when it accidentally got discharged, striking the wife on the leg. The investigation concluded the incident was a case of accidental shooting and the officer, who had three years experience, "did not know there was a round in the chamber."