The person killed by a metal ball at a Highland Games event on the Geldrop castle country estate at the weekend was a 65-year-old local, the AD has confirmed.

Police are still investigating the circumstances of the incident, which took place on Sunday afternoon. The man was killed when he was hit on the head during the hammer throw event, which involves throwing a heavy metal ball attached to a stick – in this case, one weighing 7.5 kilos.

According to the AD, the man was in the flower garden behind a hedge when he was hit.

The aim of the event is to throw the ball as far as possible and the competitor stands in a protective cage. In this case, the ball appears to have gone over the top, the AD said.

Highland Games are a Scottish tradition which has spread outside the home country and are now practiced by several dozen people in the Netherlands. The next event is due to take place in Zeeland on August 21, but the hammer throw will not be part of the competition.

‘It is too risky for the public,’ organizer Peter Traas told the AD.