MACON COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) – Macon County Sheriff’s Office officials said a 13-year-old was airlifted Thursday after an accidental shooting.

Deputies said the victim’s father took him to the front entrance of South Macon Elementary School to find help.

The school’s resource officer and a member of the school’s faculty called 911 and helped the child until emergency officials arrived on scene, according to the sheriff’s office.

“Today a father drove his injured son to a location where he knew he could find real life heroes and he found them,” Sheriff Robert Holland said. “They were teachers, SRO’s and first responders and all played a significant role in possibly saving this child’s life.”

The victim was treated at the scene before being airlifted to Mission Hospital in Asheville.

Deputies say the investigation is ongoing, but it appears the child had access to the firearm inside his father’s vehicle and the incident was a self inflicted.

They do not believe any other individuals were involved.