Man shoots himself while paying for lunch

A man has accidentally shot himself while paying for his lunch in a hospital cafe.

Stephen Tapp fired a bullet in his right thigh after reaching into his pocket in the cafeteria at the Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Centre. Police and officials said that it was an unfortunate accident.

Tapp was visiting a relative at the Centre, in Lafayette, Colorado, when the accident occurred, reports The AP. Security guards confiscated the weapon while he was treated by hospital staff.

The 59-year-old could face charges of unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon, prohibited use of a weapon and reckless endangerment.