By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

A man injured after he was involved in a Dec. 12 hunting accident in Oak Mountain State Park is still in the hospital, but is expected to make a full recovery, said OMSP Superintendent Mike Jeffreys.

The man, who was participating in a state park controlled deer hunt, was airlifted from the park after officials said he fell out of his tree stand. The fall caused a pistol in the man’s pocket to discharge and shoot him once in the chest.

“He’s going to be fine. He’s expected to make a full recovery. He’s in a step-down trauma unit at UAB now,” Jeffreys said.

The victim called 911 from his cell phone and Pelham police officers responded to the scene, along with Pelham firefighters and state park officials, Jeffreys said. The incident happened at approximately 10:30 a.m., Jeffreys said.

Although Jeffreys originally said park officials were unsure what led to the accident, he said Dec. 27 the park’s investigation determined it was an accident.

“We’re wrapping our case up now,” Jeffreys said. “It was an accident.”