Tragic incident during hare hunt: eight-year-old killed by shotgun blast

Warcop (England) - An eight-year-old boy in England has been killed by a shotgun blast during a hare hunt. According to the PA news agency, the boy suffered injuries to his head and face from the shotgun pellets.

The boy loved going fishing and hunting hares with his father, but one of them cost him his life. (symbolic image)
The boy loved going fishing and hunting hares with his father, but one of them cost him his life. (symbolic image)  © Peter Byrne/Press Association/dpa

Although he was taken to hospital by rescue helicopter, he died the same day. The incident had already occurred on September 28 in a rural area in the Cumbria region in the northwest of England.

A man aged between 60 and 70 was temporarily arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter at the scene.

No charges have yet been brought. The investigation is still ongoing.

When hunting hares, so-called beaters are often used to drive the game out of their hiding places so that they can be shot by the marksmen.

This often leads to mix-ups and tragic accidents.

The boy really enjoyed going fishing and rabbit hunting with his father, PA quoted from a statement from his parents.

"He was loving, friendly and always up to mischief, the best boy you could wish for (...)," the statement said.