If I were the father, I don't know that I could survive such a thing...or would want to.
I agree. My boys are coming into hunting age and I will be buying their first shotgun this Christmas, even though they won't be using it for another year or so. As fond as the memories are of me and my dad hunting, I am scared to death in many ways. These days there are so many people out there who don't practice safety and kids are clumsy and oblivious at times. My worst fear is that I will do something stupid that hurts one of my boys. I hope that helps me to be even more vigilant in my own safety.
Even so, there are times when you forget to do the little things that could keep you safe. I remember the first deer I shot and how I took off after him when I saw him fall, completely disregarding the fact my rifle had a round in the chamber and the safety was off or the fact he might not be dead yet. I could blame it on youth, but it was dumb nonetheless. I have climbed down out of stands with a round in, even though the safety was on, I have set my rifel in the truck with rounds in the chamber and even started to clean them only to stop myself with the rod in the barrel realizing I forgot to check it first. These are rare, but they have happened and I consider myself a safety conscious person.
Even the most careful hunter forgets or gets caught up in the moment and does something dumb at times. I won't blame this father because we don't know all the facts and it doesn't really matter anyway. Nothing we call this guy will ever hurt as much as the loss he has already suffered. I am sure he is also beating himself up more than we ever could anyway.