Crane crashes into roof as Dutchman tries to ask girlfriend to marry him

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

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

“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,” Mulder said.

Neighbouring houses were evacuated and the huge crane was still on top of the house.

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

The would-be fiancé jumped to safety and no one else was hurt, Mulder said.