The weapon was found by youngster McKenzie Hargood when he went fishing in a canal near his home in Oldbury, West Mids., on Sunday - but family did not realise it could have gone off at any second
A SCHOOLBOY went fishing in a canal – only to pull out a loaded sawn-off shotgun.
Parents Scott and Mary Hargood had taken McKenzie, 12, and his two brothers magnet fishing at their local canal in Oldbury, West Mids on Sunday when he made the discovery.
Dad Scott, 42 - who was unaware the shotgun was loaded - recognised the dangerous item and called police, triggering an armed response to collect it.
He said: “McKenzie shouted to me to say that he’d got something, so I went to help him and when he pulled it up I said, ‘it’s definitely a shot gun’.
“I used to be in the Glenrothes Rifle and Pistol Club when I lived in Fife, so I knew straight away what McKenzie had found.”
Not realising the gun had ammunition inside, Scott, 42, let McKenzie hold it, only to later find that it could have gone off any second.
The youngster said: “It felt incredible when I found that gun.
“When I first pulled it out though I thought it was a piece of metal, but dad said it was a shotgun.
“After he checked it he let me hold it. It was really, really heavy.”
When police arrived, they told the family that the gun was loaded, and that the corroded trigger could have easily slipped.
Scott, a full-time carer for his wife, Mary, 40, said: “McKenzie knew he had something as he said it felt a bit heavy.
“As soon as I saw it, I was like ‘woah, let me help’ as I didn’t want to put him in danger. We took it home and gave it a wipe down.
“Then when we realised, we called the police. We were shocked. We didn’t even know it was loaded.”
He added: “We feel very lucky to be honest.”
When he rang the police, Scott was originally told that it would be collected by 4pm the following day – but when he told them the serial number of the weapon, armed police came to collect it immediately.
The family were first inspired to start magnet fishing at Titford Lane Canal as a way to pass the time during the holidays.
McKenzie and his brothers have previously found a sword, a safe door and an empty money box during their treasure hunts near their home.
The 12-year-old said: “I like magnet fishing and one day I’d love to find loads of money!”
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “We were called to an address in Tipton on Sunday at around 4pm by a member of the public reporting that his son had pulled a sawn-off shotgun from a canal while magnet fishing.
"The weapon, which is believed to have been under water for some time, was recovered by specialist firearms officers and will be analysed in due course.
“We would urge anyone who comes across a firearm to call police immediately.
“Weapons should not be touched as they could in a dangerous condition.”
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