Soldier collapses at president's feet

A bayonet-wielding solider in Ukraine has disgraced himself and almost impaled the nation's newly elected leader after he collapsed during President Poroshenko's highly choreographed inauguration ceremony.

Soldier Alexander Sica was part of the president's guard of honour on Saturday when he fumbled with his rifle before dropping it at the feet of Poroshenko and almost tumbling over as he stooped to pick it up.

Seeing the soldier struggling to stay on his feet a fellow military man rushes to Sica's side and steadies him.

The soldier reportedly suffered from heat stroke with temperatures in Kiev reaching up to 30 degrees over the weekend.

The gaffe was not unnoticed by Poroshenko who initially appeared oblivious to the incident but as he left the parliament building he stopped to ask about the soldier's health and to wish him a speedy recovery.

Source: Lenta

Author: Martin Zavan, Approving editor: Matthew Henry