Stadium event postponed after skydiver hangs from the roof before the match begins
In the heart of France, a rugby game's kickoff took an unexpected turn on Sunday when a parachutist, part of the pre-match spectacle, got tangled in the stadium roof. This acrobatic fiasco involved Captain Yannick Trouillet, a French army parachutist, who was tasked with delivering the match ball for the European Rugby Champions Cup encounter between Toulouse and Sale.
As his fellow parachutists gracefully landed on the pitch, poor Trouillet came crashing down, disrupting the game for a whopping 40 minutes. His parachute, in a twist of fate, caught on the stadium awning, leaving the daredevil dangling precariously over the stands.
In a race against time, stadium officials, accompanied by Toulouse's lion-suited team mascot, devised an improvised safety net by using nearby inflatables. The fire services ultimately stepped in to lift Trouillet to safety on a crane, causing a massive roar of relief and admiration to erupt from the crowds at the Stadium de Toulouse.
Thankfully, Trouillet seemed unfazed by the incident and lapped up the adoration. The authorities have yet to make an official statement on the matter, but EPCR chairman Dominic McKay expressed gratitude to all involved in the rescue operations via social media.
The players, initially sent back to the dressing room, returned to the pitch before Toulouse emerged victorious with a final score of 38-15. They'll now face RC Toulon in the quarterfinals. Toulouse honored the drama of the pre-match event by posting an Instagram video, jokingly commenting, "We know seats are going fast but you're forcing it here." They also thanked the emergency services for their spectacular rescue effort. [1][3][4]
- Despite the unfortunate incident involving the parachutist, Captain Yannick Trouillet, during the pre-match spectacle at the Stadium de Toulouse in France, he showed impressive sport and return to the stadium, being applauded by the crowd.
- The parachutist, Trouillet, was initially supposed to deliver the match ball for the European Rugby Champions Cup encounter between Toulouse and Sale, but his parachute got tangled in the stadium roof, causing a delay of 40 minutes.
- In an attempt to ensure Trouillet's safety, stadium officials and Toulouse's team mascot devised an improvised safety net using nearby inflatables, while the fire services deployed a crane to safely lower him, demonstrating a commendable level of safety awareness.
