A BURNLEY student was today undergoing surgery to remove an air gun pellet from his heart.

The 19-year-old football fan was shot in the chest on Monday after watching England's World Cup game against Romania on television at Sidewalk 53 in Burnley town centre.

He was walking along Yorkshire Street when he felt a blow to his chest as he was near to the Culvert.

It was only two hours later when the pain got worse and the wound was still bleeding that he asked for medical help.

He was taken to Burnley General Hospital and then at 2am transferred to Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

The pellet lodged deep inside his chest. Surgeons monitored his condition as the pellet moved inside his body. It entered his heart and it became imperative to operate.

His mum said: "It is a very worrying time for all of us. "I want the people who did it caught but the most important thing is that our son should be OK.''

At first it was thought that he was out of danger and that it would not be necessary to operate.

The pellet then moved into the sack of the heart and surgeons had no choice but to go ahead.

The identity of the student has not been revealed at the request of his family.

Det Sgt Mark Gray said: "We are treating this incident very seriously indeed. Extensive inquiries are taking place and we are still appealing for witnesses.''

Anyone with information is asked to contact Burnley CID on 01282 425001.

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