Officials say a man was seriously injured and flown to the hospital after accidentally shooting himself in Oakwood Hills Saturday afternoon.
The Cary Fire Protection District responded around 3:14 p.m. Saturday to the 0-100 block of Fawn Ridge Drive in Oakwood Hills.
Cary Fire Protection District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said emergency crews received a report of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound at a residence.
The first police officer to arrive on the scene rendered aid to the adult male victim by securing a tourniquet to control bleeding from a gunshot wound to his lower extremity, Vucha said.
Paramedics arrived shortly after and took over patient care.
A medical helicopter was requested due to the severity of the injury.
The man was transported by ambulance to the helipad at Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital.
A Mercyhealth REACT helicopter landed at the helipad and flew the victim to Javon Bea Hospital — Riverside in Rockford for advanced medical treatment of his serious injuries, Vucha said.
According to fire department radio traffic, the man had reportedly been cleaning a firearm when it was discharged.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation by the Oakwood Hills Police Department.