On Tuesday, Dagbladet reported on an Italian hunter who was seriously injured after being shot with a rifle while hunting birds in Sweden.

If we trust hunting guides, it was five Norwegians who saved the 55-year-old man’s life. The Italian hunting team have explained that a dog must have jumped on the trigger, and this caused a shot to be fired.

One of them is Thomas Lunde (30) from Trondheim. He and his friends were on the fifth and final day of the hunt on September 21, the day the incident occurred.

Heard lots of shots

That morning, Lunde remained in the camp to prepare lunch for the rest of the hunting team who had gone out to shoot birds. Eventually a helicopter landed nearby with three Italian warplanes. As they begin to navigate their way to the Norwegian gang, Lunde grabs a walkie-talkie to warn his friends.

– After half an hour to three quarters of an hour, I heard a lot of shots. I thought they had shot a bird, but suddenly one of them (Italian, journ.am.) came and said that his friend had been shot, and that he was lying on the hill there, Lunde told Dagbladet.

Lunde tells his friends that they must help. Moreover, he got up and ran up the mountain to call the rescue services. With the help of his Norwegian roommate, Lunde contacted rescue services and shared his position.

Ancient knowledge

The accident happened in the Arjeplog mountains, in northern Sweden, just across the border from Norway.

– I fear the worst, said Lunde.

He stood and waited for the rescue helicopter. What they met at the scene was a seriously injured man. He is conscious but in pain.

Meanwhile, Lunde’s friends have performed first aid, completely according to the book. They bandaged the gunshot wound and laid the man on their side, wrapped in the wolverine they had.

– Then it was just a matter of seeking knowledge from the military, says Jørgen, 30.

– We stop the bleeding as best we can and try to keep the figure warm. Others were sent to the mountains in search of a better signal, he added.

– A clean conscience

Jørgen said it was good to see that there was life in the man. He is still in the hospital, but according to his condition, he is fine.

– Then we must have done something right, he said.

Lunde said the hunting team felt lucky because they were in the right place at the right time.

– Worrying

– We act as emergency guardians and if we weren’t there he might not be alive today.

Experienced hunters look back on a good run, despite a dramatic ending.

– We were lucky with the weather and were able to shoot some grouse. Lots of good food and drinks. I also feel we can end the hunt with a very clean conscience after saving one life, concludes Lunde.