Japan rugby international Takuma Asahara was run over by a car early Sunday, but only sustained light injuries, police said Tuesday.
The 31-year-old prop, who plays for the Toshiba Brave Lupus in the Japan Rugby Top League, was drunk and lying on the street in the Tokyo suburb of Fuchu at around 2:20 a.m. when a man in his 40s got into his car and pulled away, pinning the player beneath his vehicle.
Asahara only suffered minor injuries, the police said.
Some of Asahara’s teammates, including Japan national team captain Michael Leitch, 29, lifted the car up and pulled Asahara to safety, according to the Toshiba rugby team.
The team apologized on Asahara’s behalf, saying “We are extremely sorry that we have caused trouble to various people including the driver. We will ensure that such an incident will not happen again.”