An eight-year-old boy shot dead at a farm during an apparent rabbit hunting incident was pictured today as his junior football club paid tribute to the ‘wee man’.
Jay Cartmell suffered injuries to his head and face on land near the A66, north of Warcop in Cumbria on Saturday, with emergency services called at about 2.50pm.
A firearm was secured at the scene by police and the youngster from Frizington, 45 miles away, was taken by air ambulance to hospital where he died overnight.
A man in his 60s was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault, and taken to police custody before later being held on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. The man was then bailed as police continued their investigations.
Football clubs across west Cumbria have since paid tribute to Jay, who was a youth player for Whitehaven Miners FC.
Eight-year-old Jay Cartmell was a youth player for Whitehaven Miners FC in Cumbria
Whitehaven Miners FC paid tribute to eight-year-old player Jay Cartmell in a Facebook post
Posting on social media, the club said: ‘RIP wee man #oneofour #lanternforlife. Our thoughts are with your family, coaches and team mates.’
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And a statement from Whitehaven AFC read: ‘Our heartfelt condolences to this little lad’s family, our neighbours, Whitehaven Miners Social Football Club, his friends, team mates and all that knew him.
‘Truly devastating news, any support we can offer please let us know.’
Nicola Stephenson, secretary for Bransty Rangers JFC, added: ‘On behalf of everyone at Bransty Rangers JFC we send our sincere condolences to all at Whitehaven Miners and Jay’s family and friends.’
Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven and Workington, said: ‘This is an absolutely tragic and heart-breaking loss of such a young life. I know that our whole community will have Jay’s family in our thoughts.’
Police at a farm in the Warcop area of Cumbria on Saturday after an eight-year-old boy died
Councillor Heidi Strong from Warcop Parish Council said it was ‘a horrible, horrible tragedy’, adding: ‘People are really shook up about it.
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‘All I can say is it was definitely an accident but we don’t know the ins and outs of what happened.’
Mrs Strong said she thought the boy was not local to Warcop and speculated that he had been with a shooting party out ‘shooting rabbits’.
Rabbiting is legal on private land in the UK, provided the gun owner has the correct firearms licence and written permission from the landowner.
The village of Warcop is home to around 500 people, with two churches and a small primary school.
Local Frank Chalmers, 73, said he saw five police cars and an air ambulance as he drove to his home in nearby Brough.
A man in his 60s was arrested at the scene in Warcop on Saturday on suspicion of assault
‘I was just passing by in the car when I saw the police and an air ambulance,’ he said. ‘It is the most awful tragedy for the family and the community.’
Cumbria Police have urged any witnesses to get in touch.
A spokesman said: ‘As officers continue with their inquiries into this incident, they are encouraging anyone who may have witnessed the incident or the moments leading up to it to come forward.’
Anyone with information which may assist the investigation can report it to Cumbria Police online at www.cumbria.police.uk/reportit quoting incident number 135 of September 28 2024. You can also phone on 101. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111
