In an unusual start to a European Rugby Champions Cup match in Toulouse, France, the game was postponed due to a parachutist carrying the match ball becoming entangled. The unexpected event occurred when the parachutist got snagged on the stadium roof.
As he descended at a fast pace, the right side of his blue-and-white parachute snagged a section of the roof, leaving him suspended approximately 15 meters above spectators. The incident was widely captured on video and shared on social media platforms.
The parachutist, identified as a French soldier, fortunately appeared to be unharmed. His rescue was facilitated by two firefighters who reached him using a long ladder extended from a fire truck. They assisted the soldier in freeing the parachute from its entanglement, much to the relief and cheer of the watching crowd.
Once the chute was finally disentangled, the firefighters were met with enthusiastic applause from the onlookers, who enjoyed the spectacle. The crowd’s cheers crescendoed as they celebrated the firefighter’s efforts.
After the exciting delay, the match between Toulouse and the English team Sale commenced, albeit 40 minutes later than planned. The dramatic prelude turned into a moment of triumph and amusement for the fans before the rugby action kicked off.