Johannesburg - A three-year-old boy was airlifted to hospital after being shot during an armed robbery at his family's homein Brakpan.
According to paramedics, the robbers fired shots at the boy's mother who was trying to shield him.
Paramedics attended to the father, who had been pistol whipped, and the boy - who had been shot more than once.
The boy was sedated before a Netcare 911 helicopter was called to airlift the child to a nearby hospital for urgent medical.
Police and security officers were on the scene to investigate.