A woman, who was visiting from the United Kingdom, was killed when she was hit in the chest during an accidental shooting in Meyersdal View Estate, Alberton on Sunday.

According to Warrant Officer Gerhard Cornelius of Brackendowns SAPS, the gun went off while family members looked at their father’s gun, leading to the death of 47-year-old Fatima Lambet Issa.

“The father took out the magazine of the firearm and showed the family what the gun looks like. When one of the children picked up the gun, it went off and Issa was fatally wounded in the chest,” says Cornelius.

Issa was visiting the Meyersdal household from Leicester in the United Kingdom when the incident occurred.

There is still no clear explanation for the shooting, and it is being investigated.

Even though emergency services were quick to arrive on the scene, Issa could not be saved.

SAPS provincial spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza says cases of negligent handling of firearms and culpable homicide were opened.

According to Kweza, no arrests have been made and no further information is available.