Skydiver killed after crash-landing on spectators as he delivered match ball before football international

A skydiver died when his chute malfunctioned and he crash-landed on two spectators at a football match in a freak accident in France.

Parchutist Sylvain Chabrol, 42, had been meant to 'deliver' the match ball to the players by dropping onto the pitch from the air as a stunt at a game between France and Ukraine under 18s.

But instead he hit a pitchside floodlight, then plummeted into the crowd, killing himself and injuring two teenage boys aged 16 and 17.

Chabrol was one of seven parachutists taking part in the display at the Saint-Denis-de-L'Hotel stadium near Orleans, south of Paris, on Thursday evening.


Bernadette Rousseau, President of the Orleans Loiret Parachute Club, said: "We are all totally horrified that what was intended to be a spectacular stunt for the fans and players turned into this awful tragedy.

"Sylvain was an experienced parachutist and we still have no idea why this happened."

Bernadette, one of the seven taking part in the display, added: "As I came into land I saw the emergency services dashing to one end of the pitch.

"Sylvain was lying there, with two other people beside him on the ground.

"When his chute malfunctionned, he had hit a large floodlight, then bounced off aand fallen into the crowd by the side of the pitch.

"He landed on two teenagers, injuring them both, and killing himself."

Spectator Daniel Yvelard added: "This body just seemed to come out of nowhere.

Because his chute had apparently not opened properly, he was probably along way ahead of the the other coming into land.

"Suddenly there was a loud crash as he landed at high speed at two youngsters near the side of the pitch waiting for the game to start." Local mayor Jean-Pierre Garnier said: "It was a truly appalling accident.

"It was supposed to be a happy occasion, with the added attraction that the ball was being delivered from the air."

A police spokesman said the 17-year-old named as Quentin had suffered serious injuries while the 16-year-old suffered fractures and bruising. Both were being treated at hospital in Orleans.

He added: "A full investigation will be opened into the precise cause of this terrible accident." ends +++