France: Cyclist shot by hobby hunter

A mountain biker was fatally injured on Saturday evening after riding into a hail of bullets from a hobby hunter on the outskirts of Montriond in Haute-Savoie.

The accident occurred at around 6:00 p.m. during a recreational hunt organised by local hobby hunters in the presence of guests, said the public prosecutor of Thonon-les-Bains, Philippe Toccanier. The incident took place just a few kilometres from the Swiss border.

Shot from 40 metres away

The victim, Marc Sutton, a British national, was a 34-year-old vegetarian restaurateur who had been living in the nearby town of Les Gets for several years. The man was an avid biker and “perfectly identifiable” by his coloured helmet and coloured mountain bike on this well-travelled road situated at 1,350 metres above sea level.

The 22-year-old hobby hunter was a hunting guest and had to be hospitalised in a state of shock after realising that he had not shot at a wild boar from 40 metres away. Marc Sutton’s spine and lungs were pierced by the bullet. The man died instantly.

Mayor bans hobby hunting in the area

An investigation for manslaughter has been opened. The mayor has temporarily banned hobby hunting in the area.

France is the only country in Europe where hobby hunters are free to indulge their barbaric impulses every day of the week. And indeed, it is also the country with the highest number of hunting accidents. In all hunting accidents, 20% of those harmed are uninvolved bystanders, and a third of those cases result in fatalities. More on crime and hobby hunting.