Man shot dead in Perthshire named by Italian media as Marco Cavola
The 42-year-old died shortly after he was wounded in the Rossie Estate near Inchture on Monday morning
An Italian businessman who was shot dead on a Scots country estate in a "tragic accident", is being named by Italian media as Marco Cavola. .
The 42-year-old was on a break with two friends when a rifle was accidentally discharged while the trio shot pigeons, striking him and leaving him with fatal injuries.
The construction firm owner died shortly after suffering the fatal gunshot wounds on the Rossie Estate near Inchture in the Carse of Gowrie, Perthshire, around 11.30am on Monday morning.
Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after the incident was reported but he could not be saved.
It is understood his death is being treated as a tragic accident, though a post-mortem was to take place today/yesterday WED as part of the investigation.
The estate, close to the A90 Perth to Dundee dual carriageway, was sealed off on Monday as police and forensic examiners carried out a detailed enquiry, though the estate was reopened on Tuesday.
Reports in Italy say Mr Cavola lived in Lariano, around 30 miles from Rome, and was in Scotland with two friends on a mini break when the tragedy struck.
He is survived by a wife, daughters aged 12 and 14 and a seven-year-old son.
Tributes were paid to him online as news of the tragedy reached his home country.
The Salvini Premier League of Velletri posted on Facebook: "The Salvini Premier League of velletri tightens around the pain of Marco Cavola's family! We send our deepest condolences to all his loved ones."
One friend wrote on the site: "Good, honest and industrious, loved and respected by all. But on the other hand we know, they always leave us the best people. And you, dear Marco, you've always been. I will always remember you as my friend, "wrote Massimo.
"A friend like you never forgets. A friend like you remembers every day at all hours because they are the ones like you who make friendship beautiful, make people feel special, give value even to the single hour spent together ", is the thought of Ugo.
It is understood Mr Cavola was a keen hunter - with many pictures on his Facebook page showing him on previous expeditions hunting wild boar, birds and rabbits.
It is also understood he had previously visited the same area of Scotland on at least one previous occasion.
A local source said: "It seems that the man was part of a group out shooting birds on the estate.
"Something has gone horribly wrong and sadly he has sustained fatal injuries.
"Guns are fairly routinely used by farmers and sport shooters in the area and safety is always paramount.
"But at the end of the day they can be lethal weapons."
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: "We can confirm a man has died following an incident near Kinnaird, Carse of Gowrie, on Monday March 25.
"There was no threat to the public and the incident was contained to the immediate area.
"Inquiries are at an early stage and are continuing, and the man’s next of kin have been informed."
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We received a call at 11.30am to attend an incident at Rossie estate.
"We dispatched a rapid response unit, a trauma team and a manager.