A Frenchman has been killed by an exploding petanque ball. He is believed to be the first ever victim of such an accident.
The freak accident took place in sweltering temperatures on Thursday in the southwestern town of Boulou, close to France's border with Spain.
For currently unexplained reasons a metal petanque ball found its way into the grill being used for the unnamed victim's family barbeque, reports The Daily Mail.
It got hotter and hotter, before it exploded, and then metal particles flew into the 31-year-old's head.
"Medics were called, and a doctor arrived by air ambulance to organise an evacuation by helicopter," said a source based in the nearby city of Perpignan.