Parachute tragedy at French match

A parachutist has been killed in an attempt to land at a football stadium in France. A teenaged spectator was also killed.

The parachutist was blown off course as he tried to land ahead of a friendly game between the French and Ukrainian Under-18 teams near Orleans.

His torn parachute dragged two teenagers into the metal barrier around the pitch.

One of the spectators died in hospital and another remains gravely ill.

Police spokeswoman Nelly Rodrigues said the match was cancelled and an inquiry had been launched.

The tragedy happened as several parachutists attempted to land with the ball before the match at Orleans' Saint-Denis-de-l'Hotel stadium on Thursday evening.

The parachutist who died worked at a parachute school and had completed more than 1,000 jumps, the AFP news agency reports.

It is not clear what caused the problem.