While hunting wild boar in northern France, a British woman was shot and died as a result.
In Goudelin, Brittany, the hunting party was crossing a field of corn when a 69-year-old male, carrying his rifle on his shoulder with the “barrel pointing towards the back,” fired a shot, striking the 67-year-old woman “above the heart.”
She was sent to a hospital in Saint-Brieuc right after but was unable to be rescued, and she passed away just after noon on Sunday, October 16, according to prosecutor Nicolas Heitz.
The deceased has been identified as Jacqueline Taylor.
French police launched a manslaughter investigation and took the man, identified as Pierre Philippot, into custody for questioning.
“The hunters were advancing through a field of corn silage when one of them, a 69-year-old man, in circumstances yet to be determined, fired with his shoulder-mounted rifle, barrel pointing towards the back,” prosecutors said on Monday, October 17.
“The shot reached his companion … and whose bullet caused a penetrating wound above the heart.”
Mr. Heitz said the exact circumstances of the shooting are still unclear, but initial tests found the shooter was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
