EPCR extend olive branch to paratrooper who got stuck on Toulouse stadium roof
A paratrooper got stuck on the Stadium Toulouse roof.
EPCR Chairman Dominic McKay has issued an update after a paratrooper was rescued after being tangled on a stadium roof before a Champions Cup fixture.
The Toulouse v Sale Sharks game was delayed by 40 minutes after Captain Yannick Trouillet got stuck while attempting to land on the pitch ahead of the round of 16 tie.
The dangling man was stuck for over 30 minutes until the fire services came to his rescue and rose up to collect him before going even higher up to untangle his chute.
Fire engine saved the day
Initially, the ground staff had raced to collect post protectors and even a bouncy castle from outside to put under Trouillet before a fire engine arrived on the scene to save him.
Thankfully, they had an extendable cherry-picker which safely secured Trouillet, much to all the supporters’ delight as the dramatic episode came to a successful conclusion.
Planet Rugby’s James While was at Stadium Toulouse and captured images and video footage, saying it was a “really serious” incident until the emergency services arrived.
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Following the paratrooper’s rescue, McKay has invited Trouillet, who was meant to be delivering the Champions Cup match ball, to join EPCR as a guest at a future game.
Trouillet spoke with McKay after the incident, and the EPCR Chairman expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in the safe rescue as the tie eventually got underway.
“Following the incident at le Stadium de Toulouse, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to all involved at the stadium, both clubs and the emergency services for safely returning the parachutist to the ground,” he said.
Safety an ‘utmost priority’
“The safety of the individual and of spectators in stadium is of the utmost priority.
“We will pick up with Stade Toulousain and the stadium in due course.”
Toulouse won the game 38-15 thanks to tries from Jack Willis, Francois Cros, Julien Marchand, Ange Capuozzo and Guillaume Cramont and face Toulon in the last-eight.