Hunter shot and killed 34-year-old bicyclist in French Alps

A prosecutor says a hunter shot and killed a 34-year-old bicyclist in the French Alps in what appears to be an accident.

Thonon-Les-Bains prosecutor Philippe Toccanier said the 22-year-old hunter was hospitalised for shock after the Saturday evening shooting and couldn't be taken into custody while he is investigated on suspicion of aggravated manslaughter.

Toccanier told The Associated Press on Sunday the victim, a man from Wales who lived in France, was cycling down a mountain at around 6 pm when he passed near a group of about 10 game hunters.

Toccanier says the cyclist certainly "couldn't be confused with the game, as he had a coloured helmet and a coloured mountain bike."

Britain's Foreign Office says it's "in contact with the local authorities" and providing assistance to the dead man's family.