A 12 year old boy has been airlifted to Sydney after he was accidentally shot in the face in Young, in the state's south west overnight.
Police have been told he an a friend were in possession of a .22 rifle on a property around 7pm, when it discharged with the bullet ricocheting into his face.
He was taken to the local hospital, before being flown to Westmead for specialist treatment, he's said to be in a stable condition with non life threatening injuries.
While investigations into the matter are continuing, police do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances involved.