Sydney man accidentally kills friend while cleaning rifle at rural NSW property

A family’s Christmas holiday has come to a devastating end after a man allegedly accidentally shot his friend while cleaning his rifle.

A Christmas trip has ended in tragedy after a man was shot dead. Picture: Joel Carrett

A family’s Christmas holiday has ended in heartbreak after a man, who was trying to clean his rifle, allegedly accidentally shot his friend dead.

Emergency services were called to the country property in Bundella, northeast NSW, around 10.40pm on Boxing Day to reports a man had been shot.

NSW Police said the 41-year-old man, from Sydney’s southwest, had taken his rifle out of a car and was about to clean the gun when he accidentally fired a round.

Witnesses said the bullet hit a 23-year-old man who, despite efforts from paramedics, died at the property shortly after.

Police said there were three men and five children at the property, around 160km east of Dubbo, when the shooting allegedly happened.

Officers spoke to the distressed 41-year-old man at the scene, later taking him to Quirindi Police Station where he was charged with manslaughter.

The man was refused bail and is due to appear in Tamworth Local Court later today.

It’s understood the two men were on a family-friend holiday when the fatal shooting allegedly occurred.

Detectives from Tamworth and Gunnedah set up a crime scene at the Coomoo Coomoo Rd property late Wednesday night and spent more than a day combing through evidence.

In a statement, NSW Police said it had seized the firearm and investigations were ongoing.