An eight-year-old boy, who died as a result of gunshot wounds sustained in an incident on a farm in East Cumbria, England last weekend, has been named by Cumbria Constabulary, as Jay Cartmell of Frizington.
Emergency services were called to the scene of the incident in the rural area of north Warcop, at approximately 2:50p.m on Saturday, September 28, following which Jay was taken to hospital by air ambulance after receiving life threatening gunshot injuries to his face and head.
Jay died after he succumbed to his fatal gunshot wounds overnight.
The firearm involved was secured on sight by police and a man in his 60s was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. His arrest was later updated to that of gross negligence manslaughter, before he was released under bail.
As Cumbria police officers continue with their enquiries, they are encouraging anyone who may have witnessed the incident or the moments leading up to it, to come forward.
Whitehaven Minors Football club, of which Jay was a member of their under-nines squad, paid tribute to the talented young footballer in a post on their Facebook page, where locals paid their respects to the “wee man”.
One of the boy’s coaches, Natalie Srugham, commenting: “RIP little man. You were a talented little guy, and full of character. Pleasure to coach, and a pleasure to call my son’s friend. In our hearts forever”.
A local race track, Workington Speedway, also set up a crowd funding page to raise funds for Jay’s family in his memory.
Jay’s grandmothers, Tracey Tremble and Marion Stainton, also paid tributes to their grandson in respective Facebook posts.
“My little legend and one in a million”, said Tremble and “my precious grandson always in my heart” expressed Stainton in her post.
Jay is remembered by his family and loved ones including his father, James Cartmell and mother, Leigha Cartmell.
