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An Oxfordshire man is recovering after being shot at a military event by a soldier who fired a gun loaded with real bullets instead of blanks.

Mark Hoskins was in Carcassonne, in southern France, on Sunday watching a display by French para- troopers.

The 45-year-old - who had his eight-year-old son Edward on his shoulders at the time - was shot and left with shrapnel in his leg.

Last night, he told the Oxford Mail: "It didn't hurt at first, but then I looked down and saw the blood.

"My other son, Thomas, was with friends, and my wife, Veronica, threw herself flat... we just didn't know what was really happening.

"It was havoc. Once the firing stopped there was chaos as no-one really knew what had taken place."

The former AFC Wallingford player was rushed to hospital and, although later released, will have to return to have the shrapnel removed.

Mr Hoskins, who moved to France five years ago and runs a plumbing and heating business, said: "We were at the display watching the Paras show how they dealt with a hostage situation.

"They 'rescued' the hostage and then the firing started. I just couldn't believe what was unfolding before my eyes.

"The real shock comes afterwards when you realise what could have happened.

"The military doctors were the first to react, bringing on their equipment with impressive speed to make a field hospital in the parade ground. Civilian emergency services arrived quickly."

The French army chief of staff, General Bruno Cuche, resigned following the incident, which injured 17 people.

Four people, including a child, were seriously injured in the incident, but they are now said to be out of danger.

Mr Hoskins and his wife are now being interviewed by the gendarmerie and the army to find out exactly what happened.

He said: "There were five helicopters flying the injured to hospitals in Perpignan, Narbonne, Toulouse and Carcassonne, plus 11 ambulances attended.

"It's not until afterwards that you appreciate the full horror and what might have been."

Mr Hoskins was born in Wallingford, and is a former pupil of St John's School and Wallingford School.

Col Benoit Royal, head of the French army's information service, said: "It is 99.9 per cent likely to be an unintentional fault."

The soldier who fired the bullets was detained. He was said by Defence Minister Herve Morin to be very experienced, had a perfect record and had participated in several operations.

6:41pm Wednesday 2nd July 2008

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