Parachutist who crashed into pole at Ramaphosa's inauguration not critically injured

26 May 2019 - 15:57 By Nonkululeko Njilo
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Moments before the parachute driver's botched landing at the presidential inauguration.
Moments before the parachute driver's botched landing at the presidential inauguration.
Image: Twitter / Ranjeni Munusamy

The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) on Sunday warned against "inaccurate news" on social media after a parachutist crashed into a pole during the presidential inauguration at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday.

"The reports on social media platforms that the member is in [an] intensive care unit are not true," the SANDF said in a statement.

"The SANDF can confirm that the member received medical attention at the stadium and [was] released. The SANDF once again would like to caution the public not to spread incorrect and irresponsible information," said Brigadier-General Mafi Mgobozi.

Video clips of the botched landing went viral on social media, showing the parachutist hitting what seemed to be a pole, but then getting up with no obvious signs of injuries.

A member of the South African National Defence Force's sky diving free-fall team crashed into a poll during the Presidential Inauguration. CORRECTION: (0:02) Poll-Pole


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