Massive Mexican flag sweeps soldier 45 feet into the air

DURANGO, Mexico, May 6 (UPI) -- A Mexican soldier was carried away by more than patriotism during a ceremony when a gigantic flag snagged on his rifle and carried him 45 feet into the air.

Maximiliano Olmedo Ramirez, 35, who was participating in a Labor Day ceremony Friday in Durango, refused to let go of his rifle when it became tangled on the massive flag, which measures 164 feet by 92 feet, and he was lifted to a height of 45 feet.

Ramirez suffered a broken leg when he came crashing down to the earth, but he is expected to make a full recovery.

Video of Ramirez's brief flight was posted to YouTube, where it went viral.