Parents across China have called for a ban on ‘toothpick-shooting’ crossbow toys after a 10-year-old boy was severely injured in the eye.

Now receiving treatment in hospital, the ten-year-old boy injured by a toothpick crossbow in Xinjiang, China. [Photo: weibo]

The boy from Xinjiang was playing with a school friend when the accident happened. The toothpick ‘arrow’ pierced the cornea of his right eye, reports The Paper.

Doctors say they won’t be able to restore the boy’s eyesight back to normal as the projectile caused too much damage.

Tending to her child, the mother of the ten-year-old boy injured by a toothpick crossbow in Xinjiang, China. [Photo: guancha.cn]

Although it’s described as a toy, the crossbow can shoot toothpicks up to eight meters, and can easily penetrate 16 pieces of paper, a coke can or even a piece of plasterboard.

The police in Ningbo of Zhejiang Province received 69 reports of injuries to children from toys in the first four months of this year alone, with over 21 percent of the cases were caused by crossbows, darts and toy guns, China Daily reports.

Parents have called for toothpick crossbows to be banned across China. [Photo: iqilu.com]

"The toothpick crossbow is quite formidable, so it can be classified as a ‘control tool.’ According to the Law of Punishment for Public Security and Administration, those who illegally carry control instruments including crossbows and daggers, shall be detained for less than five days along with a fine of no more than 500 yuan (US$71). If the circumstances are relatively minor, the person should be given a warning or fined up to 200 yuan," said Zhu Hongjie, a lawyer in Xinjiang.

Responding to safety fears and appeals from parents, some e-commerce platforms have already removed the dangerous toys from their stores.