French police have arrested an 81-year-old man on suspicion that he struck a 68-year-old man with a metal petanque ball, causing the victim to collapse and die. The incident happened on Wednesday in Mimizan, a seaside town in the Landes department on France’s Atlantic coast, during a dispute between two rival petanque groups over who would use a shaded court during a severe heatwave.
According to reports, one group that usually plays on the beach had moved inland to escape the sun and claim a court in town, but another group that normally uses that court arrived and a confrontation broke out. Prosecutor Alexa Dubourg said the argument escalated into a physical fight and that evidence suggests the 81-year-old hit the victim with a petanque ball, killing him. One report said the 68-year-old did not die immediately, but collapsed minutes later after suffering a heart attack.
Local officials in Mimizan, a town of about 7,500 residents, said there is a strong rivalry between players who use the beach court and those who play in the town center, about 5 kilometers away, but they did not expect it to turn violent. Petanque is a French sport especially associated with southern France and Provence, involving throwing metal balls and requiring strategy and coordination.
The game has also become increasingly popular in Israel in recent years. It is often seen as a community sport associated with older people, though it also attracts many younger players and children.
