A 46-year-old hunter who suffered an eye injury was being treated on Monday in Paphos general hospital.

The man was injured on Sunday during the first day of the season for the hunting of wood pigeon.

According to the police, he was shot in the face at long range. He reportedly heard the shot but did not see where it came from and was then approached by a 46-year-old fellow hunter from Limassol, who had fired it.

The latter offered to take the injured man to hospital and provided all his information, but the injured man went to hospital with a friend.

The accident appears to have happened around 6.30am between Prodromi and Droushia.

The injured man was taken to the Paphos hospital emergency department where the doctor on duty confirmed he had a pellet lodged in his right eye.

He is expected to be examined by an ophthalmologist to establish the extent of damage.

The hunting licenses of both the injured party and the other hunter were checked and the incident is being investigated, police said.