Berlin - A 72-year-old Berlin man who had been a hunter for 45 years was killed near Potsdam by his old adversary the wild boar, local media reported on Friday.

Juergen C., from the borough of Reinickendorf in the west of the German capital, had been hunting with friends in the forests near Potsdam. The pursuit of a wild boar, which are common in the area, continued until the late afternoon, when the tragedy occurred in a cornfield.

"It was getting dark, and we hadn't realised that Juergen had gone into the field by himself. Suddenly he cried for help," Ehrhard H., one of the five hunting companions, told the Bild newspaper.

"We found him lying on the ground, bleeding heavily from the knee," he said. The animal had apparently gored the man whilst he was in pursuit. He later died from his injuries.

According to animal experts, boar are the most dangerous species running wild in the German countryside. "With their horns they can attack very strongly, and they bite too," animal conservation expert Julian Heiermann told Bild.

The five hunting companions are now mourning their loss, although with slight consolation. The porcine perpetrator was apprehended, and now hangs in the cool-room. (dpa)