A family tragedy unfolded on Wednesday when a man was accidentally shot dead by his teenage son while the two were out hunting near Souni in the Limassol district.

The incident occurred a little after 10.00 am. The victim was named as Antonis Charilaou, aged 45, from Limassol, who was on a hunting excursion with his 17-year-old son.

The teenager was arrested late afternoon but was later released after an assessment from a state psychiatrist. He was reportedly given medication and discharged pending the investigations.

Police said they are investigating a case of causing death by negligence, and illegal possession and transport of a hunting gun and explosives. Though people aged 17 and over can apply for a hunting permit, the law provides that a licence for possessing a hunting gun is issued to people over 18.

Limassol’s deputy police spokesman Marinos Vasiliou said that under conditions which are being investigated, the teen had shot his father in the head. Charilaou died instantly.

Police were alerted by hunters in the area as well as by the youth, who was in a state of shock, Vasiliou added.

“Two hunting rifles were found on the scene. The required investigations are underway to determine the exact cause although from initial estimates, it appears that the youth fired the shot accidentally,” he told reporters at the scene.

The wife of the victim, mother of the teen, rushed to the scene and both she and her son were accompanied to the police station.

People first applying for a hunting permit, regardless of age, need to take a course offered by the game and fauna service on the law on hunting, the possession of dogs and guns, as well as the proper use of guns, among other things.