17 Sep 2013

Parachutist invades pitch, interrupts match

5:51 am on 17 September 2013

An English minor league football match was halted at the weekend when a parachutist landed in the middle of the pitch.

To the amazement of the fifth division sides Salisbury City and Chester FC, and the 1,000 fans inside the stadium, the airborne invader touched down in the second half.

He then calmly packed up his chute and walked off to applause from the supporters.

Parachutists have interrupted sporting contests before, most famously during a heavyweight boxing clash between Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield in 1993.

His arrival was less popular though as he was set upon by members of the audience in Las Vegas.

A parachutist died in 2008 when he crash-landed in the stadium before an under-18 international between France and Ukraine in Orleans.