A steak dinner for a New Zealand family had to be put on hold Thursday when a slaughterman’s bullet richocheted off a cow’s head and hit his 18-year-old assistant in the shoulder, according to a New Zealand website stuff.co.
Police said the incident happened at 11:15 a.m. The teen was flown to a hospital in Auckland where he underwent surgery and is reportedly in critical condition.
A police spokesman said that the cow did not die from the initial gun wound, but was shot to death afterwards by a cop. It was unconscious, but still moving. The slaugherman said he didn’t kill the cow because he was concerned about his assistant.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was not contacted because police said the shooter did not have “evil intent.”
However, Occupational Safety and Health and the Department of Labor were notified and are investigating.