An Illinois hunter died after he was shot in the face by a member of his own hunting party in Iowa over the weekend, officials said.
Seth Egelhoff, 26, was hunting waterfowl in the Bay Branch Wildlife Area, about 40 miles west of Des Moines, when he was seriously injured by a gunshot around 1 p.m. Saturday, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said.
A 911 call was made shortly after the incident, and responding medics tried to rush Egelhoff to a clearing where a helicopter could pick him up and airlift him to a hospital, the department said in a statement.
But Egelhoff died as he was being brought to the pick-up location.
Police are investigating the shooting, but Conservation Officer Jeremy King said it appeared to be accidental.
A GoFundMe set up for Egelhoff’s family described him as “a beloved son, brother, grandson, uncle, and friend to many.”
“Seth Egelhoff was one of a kind and had a smile that could light up any room. Anyone that knew him, knows he would do anything for just about anyone and ask for nothing in return,” it continued.
Egelhoff was from Chesterfield, Illinois.
With Post wires.