Boy, 5, shot dead with air rifle

Jonathon Cook was on a family trip to a house in Wiltshire

A five-year-old boy has died after being shot in the head with an air rifle during a family visit to friends in Wiltshire.

Jonathon Cook, from Ealing in west London, was shot at about 1200 BST on Monday in the garden of a house in Fovant, near Tisbury.

The child was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, where he died in the afternoon.

The death is being investigated but is not currently treated as suspicious.

Jonathon's mother said he was killed in a "tragic accident" and described him as a "gorgeous, cheeky, beautiful, bright little bundle of joy".

Rapid response

The child was on a trip to Weatheroak, a house on Moor Hill in Fovant.

He is believed to be one of a number who were visiting the home of Bernard Allnutt and wife Pamela.

Wiltshire Police has issued a statement which said: "A report will be prepared for HM Coroner for Swindon and Wiltshire and we are offering support to the family, who have our deepest sympathy."

A rapid-response paramedic arrived, followed by an ambulance then an air ambulance on Monday as the severity of the child's injuries became clear.

A Great Western Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "Great Western Ambulance responded to a 999 call made at 12.11pm on Monday to a young child who had sustained head injuries following an incident with an air rifle.

"The Dorset Air Ambulance attended the incident, as they were the nearest and quickest resource available."