Would-be fiance jumped to safety as crane lowering him into girlfriend’s garden for marriage proposal fell on house next door

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

An overamorous Dutchman became a homewrecker – literally – when a crane he was using to have himself lowered into his girlfriend’s garden to make a marriage proposal fell through the neighbour’s roof.

The unnamed man hired a crane in the town of Ijsselstein to lower him over his girlfriend’s house and into her garden for the surprise proposal early on Saturday morning, emergency services spokesman Jelle Mulder told AFP.

During the attempt to right the crane in Usselstein, central Netherlands, it fell on the house again. Photograph: As Media/AP

“The crane the man wanted to use to propose fell on a house. During the attempt to right it, the crane unfortunately slipped and fell on the house again,” he said. Neighbouring houses were evacuated.

“We’re looking at the best way to lift the crane without it falling again,” said Mulder.

The would-be fiance jumped to safety and no one else was hurt, Mulder said. “The people in the house the crane fell on are deeply shocked,” he said.

The authorities will decide if the house needs to be demolished after the crane is lifted.

The authorities will decide if the house needs to be demolished. Photograph: Michiel Van Beers/EPA

Despite the fiasco, the girlfriend accepted the marriage proposal, Dutch media reported, and the couple have gone on holiday.

“They had a trip to Paris planned and the police told them that there was no reason to cancel,” said Mulder.