Buddhist monk in induced coma after ‘gruesome’ nail-gun incident at Sydney temple

A Buddhist monk is in Liverpool Hospital fighting for his life with a 10 centimetre nail lodged in his head after a “gruesome” incident at a temple in Rossmore in Sydney’s south-west.

Police believe there was a struggle between two men, both ending up with nails lodged in their heads.

Today, Tha Lam’s daughter rushed to his bedside as police tried to piece together exactly what happened.

There were blood stains the floor of the Rossmore Buddhist monastery’s humble sleeping quarters where there was a violent confrontation between Mr Lam, 59, and his friend 29-year-old monk Karuna Kim.

Mr Kim still has a 10 centimetre nail in his forehead and is in an induced coma.

“One of those persons used a nail gun to shoot another person and it would appear then shoot himself,” Superintendent James Johnson said.

After the incident, Mr Lam staggered outside with a nail lodged in the side of his head behind his ear.

Other monks ran to help and give him first aid.

“They’ve been offered counselling, as were the police who attended what is a gruesome scene,” Supt Johnson said.

Police say they don’t know which man fired the makeshift weapon which was stolen from a construction site on the grounds but the older man has told friends his version of events.

“He said he heard a few shot bang bang bang and realised the monk shot himself and after that he turned and have a look and the monk come and grab his throat and shot him,” temple member Venara Kim said.

The peaceful Buddhists are still struggling to come to terms with the attack.

“Sometimes this world is not very perfect. We are very sad about this one,” Mr Kim said.