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Boy, 9, Loses Eye After Being Shot By A Nerf Gun

Boy, 9, Loses Eye After Being Shot By A Nerf Gun

Due to complications because of infections, Taylor was hospitalised for six weeks following the accident

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

A nine-year-old boy from South Wales has had to have his eye removed after being hit by a pellet from a Nerf gun.

Taylor-Jay Ravicini was struck by a toy arrow when he was just three, which caused him to lose sight in the eye.

The schoolboy lost an eye after two freak accidents.
Wales News Service

The subsequent strike from the Nerf projectile reportedly damaged the organ itself beyond repair, at which point doctors were forced to remove it to ensure that he didn't lose sight in his other eye, too.

Due to complications because of infections, Taylor was hospitalised for six weeks following the accident.

Mum Stacey is fundraising for Taylor to buy him a specialist prosthetic eye.
Wales News Service

The unfortunate incident took place whilst he was playing with a friend in the house under the supervision of his mother. This second - extremely unlikely - accident led to the doctors taking the decision to completely remove the eye and replace it with a false eye.

His mother, Stacey, is now trying to fundraise in order to get Taylor a more convincing prosthetic eye that will not draw the attention of strangers or children at Taylor's school.

Nerf Gun Bullets.
Steven Depolo/Flickr

Stacey told the Sun: "I really don't want people thinking I am a bad mother,

"I was there with my three children and everything just happened in a flash,

"What are the chances of an accident happening twice in the same eye?

"I was downstairs, and I heard a devastating scream and my heart sunk, I couldn't even go to see him, I sent my partner as I knew something had happened.

"Taylor's eye was full of blood and it was causing a build-up of pressure. Doctors told us that he risked losing sight in both eyes if we didn't remove the damaged one."

Speaking of the first incident, she continued: "The first time it was a freak accident. I was there with my three children and everything just happened in a flash.

"I didn't know what to do so I called a taxi to A and E.

"We were told Taylor had a scratch in his eye but the true extent was revealed when specialist doctors in Bristol confirmed he had been blinded."

35-year-old Stacey is trying to raise the money to get Taylor an improved prosthetic eye after kids at his school took to bullying him, even referring to him as 'Popeye'.

She added: "Wherever we go people are staring at him and whispering about his eye. In school he is constantly bullied, and people call him, 'Popeye', that really hurts, why should he be treated different?

"I am constantly worrying for him and what will happen next, it has just been one big emotional rollercoaster.

"I hope people understand how much he needs this prosthetic eye."

Featured Image Credit: Wales News Service

Topics: UK News, UK