A man out walking in the forests near Bormes-les-Mimosas in the Var has lost a leg after an elderly hunter mistakenly shot him during a wild boar chase.
According to Var Matin, a 38-year-old father had his leg amputated after he was accidentally shot by an 82-year-old hunter.
The local newspaper reports that the younger man had been out mushroom-picking with two friends in a section of the hinterland, near the Route de Cabasson, open to walkers on 30th October when the incident occurred. Their excursion had begun around two hours before a group of hunters arrived and started tracking wild boar.
Some time later, one of the hunters, an 82-year-old man, is believed to have mistakenly fired at the group, hitting the father from Giens in the leg from just 20 meters away.
The newspaper reports that the man was transported to a hospital in Marseille, around 100 kilometers away, in serious condition. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, his injured leg was later amputated.
According to Var Matin, the pensioner has been remanded in police custody, and a gendarmerie-led investigation has been launched. Initially opened for “unintentional violence with a weapon,” the investigation may be reclassified as “unintentional violence with a weapon resulting in permanent disability” in light of the amputation.
The accused reportedly belongs to the Bormes Lou Pardigaou hunting group.
Hunting accidents are somewhat common in France. During the 2023/24 hunting season, six people lost their lives due to hunting-related incidents, while another 97 were injured.
The autumn/winter hunting season began on the French Riviera on 8th September. It will continue until 12th January 2025 in the Alpes-Maritimes and until 28th February 2025 in the Var.
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