Mimizan: An 81-year-old p©tanque player was arrested by French police after he fatally struck a 68-year-old rival with a metal p©tanque ball following an argument in a southwestern French Atlantic resort town.

According to Thai News Agency, the tragic incident took place in Mimizan, a resort town in the Landes department on the Atlantic coast in southwestern France. The conflict began when a group of p©tanque players, who usually played on the beach, moved to the town's indoor court to escape the heat. Some local players refused to allow them to share the court, leading to a heated argument over the playing area.

The dispute escalated into a physical altercation, with reports indicating that the 68-year-old victim threw a punch first. He was then struck in the head or face by the 81-year-old player with a metal p©tanque ball, suffering severe injuries. The victim subsequently died of a heart attack a few minutes later.

Following the incident, the 81-year-old man was immediately taken into custody by police at the scene. The Mont-de-Marson prosecutor is conducting a thorough investigation, examining all witnesses and the circumstances surrounding the incident, in order to formally file charges and proceed with legal action.