Man fighting for life after being shot by NSW Police at Elderslie in Sydney’s southwest

A man is in critical condition after being shot by NSW Police during a welfare check.

Officers arrived at a caravan park on Macarthur Rd at Elderslie — in Sydney’s southwest — about 12.15pm on Thursday, after a mental health provider reported that a 52-year-old man was threatening self-harm and was suicidal.

When police arrived, the man was lying on a bed inside the premises, armed with a “large knife”, Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said.

Police kept their distance after the man began displaying the knife in their direction without making his intentions clear.

Over the following hours, officers attempted to engage and negotiate with the man, and specialist police resources were brought in to assist.

“These attempts at negotiation were unsuccessful,” McFadden said.

“For over a period of an hour, there was no movement or were unable to raise any contact with the male inside the unit.”

About 3.30pm, specialist officers entered the unit “to ensure the welfare of the individual was secured”, at which point they were “rushed and attacked by the 52-year-old male with a large knife”.

McFadden said a range of less-than-lethal options — including a Taser and other tactical munitions — were deployed but proved ineffective, prompting officers to fire three shots at the man.

Paramedics treated the man at the scene before transporting him to Liverpool Hospital, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

McFadden said the original intent of police was to save the man’s life.

“At this stage it is too early to speculate on the wider circumstances, but it is a clear demonstration of the transition of police actions that was originally started to save and intervene in the life-saving activities that turned straight into protecting their own lives,” he said.

“It’s a very difficult area and the circumstances are tragic, but the full investigation will understand the full circumstances.”

NSW Police said a critical incident team from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad will lead the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.