THE shocked parents of a teenager gunned down by a mystery attacker today revealed that their son was lucky to be alive.

Adam Hayes was blasted in the chest by a shotgun as he walked home with three friends late on Friday night.

Police today warned that the gunman could kill if he is not caught and are circulating an artist's impresssion to Blackburn schools.

The 17-year-old Blackburn College student lost four pints of blood and suffered a collapsed lung as a result of the unprovoked attack.

His parents Paul and Anne Hayes were woken in the middle of the night by police and rushed to hospital to be by their son's side at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

The family live in Redlam, less than half a mile away from where Adam was attacked close to Witton Park.

Paul, 50, said: "The first we knew about what had happened was when we were woken up by the police.

"Adam had been out with his friends in the area. You don't worry so much because they are more likely to get into trouble in the town centre.

"It appears the four of them were walking past Witton Park when this man said something to them."

Paul added: "Adam said they ignored him so he started shouting at them and chased after them. Adam stopped to try and talk to the man and he pulled the shotgun out and shot him in the chest.

"We are still struggling to come to terms with what has happened. You just don't expect something like this to happen to your son." Mrs Hayes said: "Adam is in a lot of pain and he is in a bad way. They have pulled a lot of pellets out of his chest and arm.

"He managed to tell us what happened but he is still in a lot of pain and very shocked by what happened.

"I know we are biased but Adam is a lovely lad. He is at college studying to become a nurse. He is a very quiet boy and never gets into any sort of trouble. This whole thing has hit us like a bolt out of the blue.

"The doctors said Adam is a very lucky young man, if the man had been any closer to him when he pulled the trigger he would be dead now."

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Kellett said Adam was very lucky to be alive.

He said: "We need to catch this man as soon as possible, he is likely to strike again.

"Next time we could be looking at a murder inquiry and we need to get this man as soon as possible."

Police are circulating a likeness of the wanted man to schools in the Blackburn area. Anybody who recognises the artist's impression is being urged to ring the incident room on 01254 353569.

Gunman may shoot again - see separate story

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