A hunter who died after being shot by her own rifle in the Blue Mountains Conservation Area was the victim of a tragic accident, a coroner has ruled.
The incident occurred in June 2023 during a deer hunt in steep, slippery terrain in Beaumont Forest. Coroner Mary-Anne Borrowdale found the woman likely slipped or fumbled while preparing to fire, causing her rifle to discharge after she had switched off the safety catch.
She had been hunting with her partner, but the pair separated briefly while tracking a deer. When her partner later saw via GPS that she had stopped moving and failed to respond on the radio, he followed her dog and found her on a damp slope above a creek, with her rifle lying several metres away and ammunition still in the magazine.
Police confirmed the firearm was mechanically sound and could not fire with the safety engaged. However, it could discharge if the hammer was knocked when the safety was off. Investigators noted the awkward placement of the safety catch for some users, meaning it could be unintentionally shifted into the “fire” position when the rifle was slung over a shoulder.
The coroner said three accidental scenarios were possible but all pointed to an unintentional death.
Image credit: Julian Hanslmeier
