A Kumbo-based lawyer, Ayori Cyril, narrowly escaped death recently when a den gun he fired during a funeral rite exploded and injured him on the hand and lower limbs.

Barrister Ayori told The Post that the incident took place at Ndzevru Mbam Valley in Nkum Subdivision around 7.30 am on April 27 while he was mourning his grandfather's cousin, late Thomas Kfoarban.

Ayori who narrated his story from his sick bed at Banso Baptist Hospital said when he run out of gun powder, one Papa Douala offered to sell him some.He said he refused to buy the gunpowder because it was too expensive. Ayori said he left his den gun in the compound of the deceased until the following morning.

When he got to the deceased's compound to collect his gun, Ayori said he met Papa Douala who suggested to he (Ayori) could test the gunpowder before purchasing it.Ayori said he measured a quantity of the gunpowder equal to the "Queen" (a match-boxful, loaded his gun and once, twice. But the gun did not fire.

The Barrister said when the gun did not fire the second time, he discovered that he did not prepare the cap of the den gun well. So he fixed it and shot the gun with his left hand.

"After shooting the gun with my left hand, I discovered that my left hand was empty as the gun exploded," said Ayori.

"I missed death by an inch." Papa Douala is said to be late Kfoarban's stepbrother.Ayori told this reporter that since the incident occurred Papa Douala has not visited him in the hospital.