In a bizarre turn of events before the highly anticipated Champions Cup match between Stade Toulousain and Sale Sharks on April 6, 2025, a parachutist found himself suspended precariously from the roof of the Stadium in Toulouse. The incident, which occurred just moments before the match was set to kick off, left fans and players alike in shock.
The parachutist, a soldier from the 3rd regiment of Muret, was supposed to drop the match ball onto the field. However, he encountered a "hot air bubble" during his descent, which caused him to crash into the stadium’s roof, leaving him dangling approximately 20 meters above the ground. This unexpected twist delayed the match by 40 minutes, with 31,737 spectators watching in disbelief.
Ugo Mola, the head coach of Stade Toulousain, expressed his relief after the incident, stating, "I think we narrowly avoided a real disaster." The tension in the air was palpable as the parachutist remained stuck for nearly 25 minutes, during which time emergency services, including firefighters and security personnel, scrambled to ensure his safety.
As the situation unfolded, players from both teams were in the corridor, preparing to enter the pitch. Pierre-Louis Barassi, a player for Stade Toulousain, recalled the moment, saying, "It happened two minutes before we went out, so we were all hyped. The guys in the corridor started shouting. Someone told us, 'Someone is hanging from the roof!' Of course, some of us didn’t quite understand what was happening at first."
In an effort to secure the area below the suspended soldier, the teams’ training shields and padding were quickly arranged to create a makeshift landing zone. Additionally, a nearby inflatable bouncy castle was moved into position to further cushion any potential fall.
Eventually, it was the firefighters with a large ladder truck who managed to rescue the soldier. As he descended to safety, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause, relieved that the incident had concluded without injury. The parachutist expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in his rescue.
Marc Vérillotte, a former major in the RAID and a parachuting expert, commented on the challenges of urban jumps, saying, "People think it’s easy because the stadium is large, but these jumps are very difficult. Turbulence created by the roof can make it hard to navigate, and you have to avoid pylons and lights. In urban settings, you don’t have many alternative landing zones."
Vérillotte, who has extensive experience with parachute jumps, explained that unexpected air pockets can create dangerous situations, potentially leading to rapid descents of 10 to 20 meters or more. He emphasized that jumps like the one attempted by the soldier require special permissions, which are rarely granted due to safety concerns.
Despite the initial panic, the players managed to refocus their energy for the match that followed. Mola acknowledged the disruption but insisted it was not an excuse for their first-half performance. "Yes, it disturbed us, but it disturbed them too (Sale). It’s not an excuse, especially since we were the first to score," he said.
The match eventually commenced, with Stade Toulousain securing a convincing 38-15 victory over Sale Sharks. However, the day’s events overshadowed the game itself, as Mola noted, "In moments like these, sports take a backseat. We are just glad that it ended well for that man."
As the players celebrated their victory, the extraordinary incident served as a reminder of the unpredictability of sports and the importance of safety measures in high-stakes environments. The parachutist’s experience will undoubtedly be a story that resonates with the players, fans, and the local community for years to come.
In the aftermath, the match and the unusual circumstances surrounding it will be remembered as not just another game in the Champions Cup but as a day when a community came together in concern and relief for one of their own.
