WISCASSET — A 49-year-old Wiscasset man who told police he accidentally shot himself early Wednesday morning was taken by LifeFlight of Maine helicopter to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, where he was in surgery later Wednesday.

Daniel Reed, 49, was seated in a recliner in the living room of his Gardiner Road home when Wiscasset police, fire and ambulance personnel arrived at approximately 2:35 a.m. Wednesday, Wiscasset Police Chief Troy Cline said in a release.

Reed told police that he had accidentally fired a .22 caliber TALA semiautomatic pistol and wounded himself while “messing around” with it.

Police said the round entered the left side of Reed’s chest just beneath his breast bone, and exited through his back.

After being transported to CMMC by LifeFlight, he was in surgery late Wednesday morning.

Police said the gun was secured and held for safekeeping.