THE mother of a Bury teenager shot by an air gun has told how he cheated death by a fraction of an inch. The pellet lodged in his stomach, narrowly missing a main artery after going through his liver and penetrating his pancreas.

Now, parents Barbara and Ed Newens, face an anxious wait before hearing if their 19-year-old son Andrew will suffer permanent damage.

Meanwhile, police have launched a hunt for the gunman. Mrs Newens says officers told her a similar incident happened at the same location the week before.

Andrew, of Birks Drive, was shot as he walked through a field at Garside Hey Road, Brandlesholme, around 3pm on Monday.

Mrs Newens said: "He was coming home from work and decided to look for friends who had apparently been at some lodges in that area.

"Andrew felt he had been winded and discovered the wound to his stomach.

"But he hadn't seen or heard anything.

"He managed to get home - we live only five minutes away - before collapsing into a chair.

"My husband was in and he telephoned 999."

The worried mum continued: "The pellet went into his right side and travelled across to the left side.

"It went through his pancreas and was only a fraction away from a main artery.

"If it had severed it, my son could have bled to death.

"Police have told me that only last week pot shots were taken at someone who was fishing in that area." After the shooting, Andrew's sister overheard a conversation between two postmen on a bus.

"They said they had seen and heard some lads on Garside Hey Road laughing and speaking about what happened to Andrew," Mrs Newens went on. "But I'm not accusing anyone.

"It could be they had heard about what had happened." Meanwhile the teenager, who works as a tile maker, is recovering in Bury General Hospital.

Yesterday, a spokesman described his condition as stable but said he would remain in hospital for some time.

Anyone with information about the shooting should ring Bury police on 856 8157. Alternatively, they can freephone CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

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