Picture: Eight-year-old boy fatally shot on farm in Warcop; Tributes poured in for the football-loving young man

An eight-year-old boy who was shot dead on a farm today was photographed as his football club paid tribute to the ‘little man’.

Jay Cartmell suffered head and facial injuries on land near the A66 north of Warcop in Cumbria on Saturday and emergency services were called at around 2.50pm.

While the firearm was secured at the scene by police, the teenager, who came from Frizington, 45 miles away, was taken to hospital by air ambulance and died there overnight.

A man in his 60s was arrested at the scene and taken into police custody on suspicion of assault, and was later arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence. The man was released while police continued their investigation.

Football clubs across West Cumbria have since paid tribute to Whitehaven Miners FC youngster Jay.

The club said on social media: ‘RIP little man #oneofour #lanternforlife. Our thoughts are with your family, coaches and teammates.’

In the statement made by Whitehaven AFC, the following statements were made: ‘We extend our sincere condolences to this little boy’s family, our neighbours, Whitehaven Miners Social Football Club, his friends, team-mates and everyone who knew him.

‘Truly devastating news; Please let us know any support we can offer.’

Bransty Rangers JFC secretary Nicola Stephenson added: ‘On behalf of everyone at Bransty Rangers JFC we send our sincerest condolences to everyone at Whitehaven Miners and to Jay’s family and friends.’

Whitehaven and Laborton MP Josh MacAlister said: ‘This is an absolutely tragic and heartbreaking loss of such a young life. ‘I know our entire community will have Jay’s family in their thoughts.’

Councilor Heidi Strong, of Warcop District Council, said it was a ‘horrible, terrible tragedy’ and added: ‘People are really shaken up about it.

‘All I can say is that it was definitely an accident, but we don’t know the details of what happened.’

Miss Strong said she did not think the boy was a native of Warcop and guessed he had joined a shooting party ‘shooting rabbits’.

Rabbit farming is legal on private land in the UK, provided the gun owner has the correct firearms license 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 on his way to his home in nearby Brough.

‘As I walked through the car, I saw the police and the air ambulance,’ he said. ‘This is the most terrible tragedy for family and society.’

Cumbria Police have appealed for any witnesses to get in touch.

A spokesman said: ‘While officers continue their investigations into this incident, they are encouraging anyone who witnessed the incident or the moments leading up to it to come forward.’

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation can report it to Cumbria Police at www.cumbria.police.uk/reportit quoting incident 135 of 28 September 2024. You can also call 101. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.