A SAMBOURNE pensioner died four days after a tragic accident in which he apparently shot himself by mistake.

John Moroney, aged 73, of Sambourne Park, was cleaning a semi-automatic 12-bore shotgun in his garage after he had been out shooting during the morning of Wednesday, September 24, when the incident happened at about 4.30pm

He later died from his wounds on Sunday, September 28, at the Alexandra Hospital.

An inquest was opened and adjourned last Wednesday by the Warwickshire coroner while investigations continue.

Warwickshire coroner's officer Robert Scott said the shotgun was an unusual Italian three-shot gun and had been found in the firing position when Mr Moroney was discovered.

He said it was possible that Mr Moroney, who lived with his wife, had forgotten a cartridge had been left in the breach of the weapon while he was cleaning it.

The gun had discharged into his abdomen. The emergency services were called and Mr Moroney was taken to hospital.

A Warwickshire police spokesman said: "We were alerted to the incident after reports that a gun had been discharged.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious and there will be a coroner's inquest."

A date has yet to be set for the closure of the inquest.