Thread: Hunter shot Stewart Island

Originally Posted by Kscott

Police have released the name of a young hunter shot dead on Stewart Island yesterday.

Samuel Phillip Long, 24, of Invercargill, died at the scene when he was shot by another member of a five-person hunting party.

Police said Mr Long was hunting alone when he was shot.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident at 10.15am when Maritime New Zealand picked up a signal from an emergency beacon.

"We located it as being at Stewart Island and DoC [Department of Conservation] notified us of a hunting party in the area," said a rescue co-ordination centre spokeswoman.

A Southern Lakes Helicopters rescue helicopter was dispatched, and local island authorities were also notified, she said.

The helicopter arrived about midday. The beacon was located in the Abrahams Bay area.

Detective Sergeant Grant Johnstone said staff were yesterday speaking to the family of the dead hunter.

An investigation into the incident was ongoing, he said.

It is not known yet whether the victim was shot by a member of the same hunting party.

More details are expected to be released this morning.

Jesus wept