(foto: Posnetek zaslona)
A falling spotlight nearly struck Max Sport presenter Valentina Miletić during a live broadcast—until ex-goalkeeper Ivan Kelava saved her with a lightning-quick reaction.
A near-accident unfolded during a live football broadcast in Zagreb as Valentina Miletić, host of Max Sport’s coverage of the Croatian Football League (SHNL), narrowly avoided being struck by a large falling spotlight. Her unexpected saviour? Former Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Ivan Kelava.
The incident occurred ahead of the Lokomotiva vs Rijeka match in round 28 of the SHNL, held at Kranjčevićeva Stadium. The conditions were far from ideal—strong winds swept across the venue, complicating both the match and the broadcast setup.
Split-second reaction saves the day
As Miletić and Kelava stood in front of cameras in the studio, a sudden gust of wind toppled one of the large lighting rigs, sending it hurtling toward the presenter.
In a reflexive, goalkeeper-like reaction, Kelava reached out with his hand and caught the spotlight mid-air, just inches before it could strike Miletić on the head.
The frightening moment was captured on video and quickly made its way onto social media, with fans praising Kelava’s calm and instinctive intervention.
“Finally saved something again”
Thankfully, no injuries occurred, and the show went on. Kelava laughed off the moment, telling the studio crew: “Finally saved something again.”
The clip has since gone viral, with football fans and media outlets praising his quick thinking—and noting that he hasn't lost his shot-stopping instincts, even off the pitch.