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A crossbow bolt fired at a pensioner as he stood outside his home "narrowly missed his heart", police have confirmed.

Gerald Corrigan, 74, was shot with a crossbow outside his house on South Stack Road in Holyhead during the early hours of the morning on Good Friday.

He had gone out to fix his satellite dish.

Mr Corrigan, a retired photography lecturer who moved to Anglesey 20 years ago, remains in a critical condition following the incident .

Police have now revealed how lucky he is to be alive.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales' Good Morning Wales programme, DCI Brian Kearney, North Wales Police's senior investigating officer, said: "He suffered horrendous injuries. He remains stable but heavily sedated on a ventilator.

(Image: North Wales Police)

"The bolt travelled through a significant part of his upper body, narrowly missing his heart, and through his right arm.

"I have no doubt that the paramedics, medical staff at Ysbyty Gwynedd and now at the Royal Stoke Hospital have been truly brilliant at saving his life."

DCI Kearney once again appealed for the person who fired the crossbow to come forward , adding: "If this truly was an accident, do what is right and come forward and explain what went wrong.

"We also ask family members and friends of that person to also come forward and speak to us in person.

(Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)

"We will leave no stone unturned in this investigation."

DCI Kearney said the investigating team, made up of 30 detectives as well as national experts, had made good progress in their investigation.

He said they had traced "many of the thousands of visitors" to Anglesey over the weekend and have officers travelling as far afield as London to interview potential witnesses.

He said: "We have completed house to house enquiries at four campsites and visited numerous homes and we will continue to do so.

(Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)

"We have completed the forensic examination of the scene and the fingertip search of the ground has also concluded."

He added that RNLI volunteers had assisted investigation team.

He added: “We are continuing to work with crossbow suppliers and businesses and I have received excellent support from the UK’s largest retailer of crossbows.

“I would also appeal to members of the public that if they know of anybody on Anglesey who owns a crossbow to please let us know in confidence. We need to eliminate them from our investigation and we will of course treat any crossbow holder professionally."

DCI Kearney added that they "hope" the incident is isolated, but are keeping an open mind as to the motive.

(Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)

He said Mr Corrigan had lived a "tranquil" life in a remote part of Anglesey for decades.

Anyone with any information relating to the investigation is asked to contact officers at Llangefni CID on 101 or via the live webchat quoting reference number X052857. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.