In a harrowing incident that unfolded in Deltona, Florida, a 5-year-old girl accidentally shot herself in the leg with a shotgun she discovered under a family member's bed.
The Volusia County Sheriffs Office, who responded to the distress call on Boxelder Street on Saturday afternoon, found the child in a state of consciousness but bleeding profusely.
The deputies, identified as Maletto, Kagle, Williams, Estrada, and Rodriguez, promptly administered aid, applied a tourniquet, and transported the child to Deltona Fire Rescue. The girl was subsequently moved to Arnold Palmer Hospital. The swift response and application of the tourniquet likely saved her life, according to the hospital staff.
The authorities have not made any arrests or charges in relation to the accidental shooting that occurred in the residence north of Orlando. The incident is currently under investigation by detectives who will forward their findings to the State Attorneys Office for review.
The police released a blurred video of the incident to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. However, the audio captured the intense interaction between the deputies and the child. A deputy is heard saying, "Let me see, sweetie. Let me see," to which the girl responds, "Right there." The deputy then urgently calls for a tourniquet and warns the child that the application might cause pain. As the child cries out, the deputy reassures her, "We got ya! You're all right, sweetheart. Don't look at it." A first responder is then heard comforting the frightened girl, "Hold my hand. Hold my hand. You're going to be all right."
Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood commended the deputies for their decisive action and compassion. "The hair on the back of my neck stood up listening to these deputies render aid to this 5-year-old girl," Chitwood wrote. "What an outstanding example of decisive action and compassion by all involved." The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of firearm safety, particularly in households with children.
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