Leap-frogging lord mayor injures female council worker - dressed as a tomato - News

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Jim Rodgers was asked to perform the athletic feat to promote a food festival.

At first he expressed doubt as to whether he was agile enough - but the grey-haired Lord Mayor gave it a go anyway.

Scroll down for more...

The Lord Mayor tries to leapfrog his colleague - but his leg gets caught and he injures her

He took a dep breath and a running leap, hoping to clear the head of Belfast City council worker Lorraine Mallon, who was wearing the tomato costume.

But the Ulster Unionist councillor caught Ms Mallon on the back of the neck with his leg.

She suffered a slipped disc and has been unable to return to work since the accident on September 4.

One photographer, who wouldn't to be named, said: "One of the photographers jumped over her and he said he should be able to do it.

"He is a bit of a character.

"We all lined up and he took a large run at her. He jumped over her and just caught her.

"He went down and she went down. The girl was in tears."

A spokesman for Belfast City Council said: "It was an unfortunate accident during a publicity shoot for a city council event. Other than that we are not prepared to comment."

Mr Rodgers has apologised for the accident and said he had been left "devastated".

He added: "I just caught the top of her head and unfortunately I injured her.

"I'm very fit and look after myself, but it was just one of those unfortunate things.

"I have kept in regular contact with her and my thoughts and prayers are with her. "I just now hope that she makes a speedy recovery."