The victim of the latest hunting-related fatal shooting in France, Marc Sutton, was living the dream in France. He ran a restaurant and in his spare time loved cycling, triathlon and skiing.
A 34-year-old British cyclist has been shot dead in France by a hunter who mistook him for an animal.
Marc Sutton, who ran a restaurant near Les Gets and had a passion for sports, died after being hit while riding through woods on his mountain bike.
Reports from France stated the 22-year-old man who shot the deceased was so shocked by what had happened he had to be taken to hospital.
The incident is the latest in a series of fatalities in which people have been accidentally shot by hunters.
There were 18 such cases last year; some of the victims mistaken for animals and others being fatally wounded by stray bullets.
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Mr Sutton had moved from the UK a number of years ago and had settled in the French Alps.
He was an avid road cyclist and mountain biker and also did triathlon and skiing. The dead man ran two restaurants in the region where he was shot.
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He was wearing hi-vis clothing when shot on a well known trail on Saturday evening.
It was getting dark at the time. And local police believe the hunter saw movement in the woods and opened fire as he thought he was aiming at an animal.
The local newspaper, Le Dauphine Libéré, reported the shooting occurred at about 6pm near the Montriond ski resort.
The shot fired from a man who was among a seven-man hunt organised by the local hunting association.
Police sealed off the scene and an investigation into Mr Sutton’s “aggravated manslaughter” has begun. The victim died of a single gunshot.
The number of fatalities as a result of hunting incidents has caused controversy in France.
Just two weeks ago a hunted was jailed for a year for the involuntary killing of a runner who was shot in the head and died.
The region where the dead man was shot is set to host four UCI World Cup MTB races and the World Championships between 2019 and 2022.
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