Skydiver narrowly avoids serious injury as he crashes into advertising boards after stunt went wrong before football match
A skydiver had a lucky escape after colliding with advertising hoardings before a football match in the Netherlands.
Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles had planned to make a spectacular start to the new domestic football season by having the match ball delivered by skydivers for their opening match.
A team of parachutists landed at De Adelaarshorst stadium ahead of kick off against Willem II.
While the majority landed without incident, one parachutist came dangerously close to suffering injury.
Having dropped into the stadium at speed, the man proved unable to slow himself to a halt on the playing surface.
Instead, the skydiver was captured on television drifting towards one of the goals.
A parachutist avoided injury after crashing into advertising hoardings before a football match
The man had been part of a team of parachutists who entered the pitch before Go Ahead Eagles first match of the new season
The Dutch side had been looking to have the matchball delivered in spectacular fashion
Fortunately the man avoided colliding with the goalframe as he quickly pulled their parachute in an attempt to reduce his speed.
The man still struck a stanchion behind the goal and the advertising hoardings, although fortunately their speed had reduced at the time he collided.
Fans cheered after the parachutist got back to their feet and signalled to the crowd that they had avoided injury from the incident.
‘Ooh, that didn’t land very well,’ ESPN’s commentator reacted.
‘The first injury of the season is a fact. Not of a player, but a parachutist.’
After the pre-match scare, Go Ahead Eagles made a dominant start to the new Eredivisie season.
Despite falling behind in the early stages, the hosts stormed back to earn a 4-1 victory over newly promoted Willem II.
