Man dies in freak shooting accident

2011-10-31 10:29

Buks Viljoen, Beeld

Mbombela - A specialist in the area of jackal research accidentally killed himself in a freak shooting accident over the weekend.

Dr Paul Möller, 60, was alone at a shooting range on Saturday morning when he apparently stepped on a loose shoelace and fell down while holding his .357 revolver.

As he fell down, a shot went off and hit him in the right temple.

Möller was to have taken part in a shooting exercise about 12km outside town on Saturday morning.

He was the safety official of the shooting range and had left early in the morning to prepare the shooting range.

Johan Scott, chairperson of the Duiker branch of the South African Hunting Association, said Möller’s death was a huge shock.

He was found by members of another shooting club at about 07:20, lying on his stomach with his revolver next to him.

Möller was described as a true outdoors person who loved nature. He was an expert on jackals with a doctorate in animal behaviour.

He was survived by his partner, Adrie de Wet.

A police spokesperson said an inquest would be held.
 

- Beeld