A rugby player from the Moscow club Slava, together with Anastasia Semak, described their efforts clearing the rubble at Crocus City Hall, the venue destroyed in the terrorist attack. This account comes from the Russian Rugby Federation’s official site (RFR).
“We spent seven hours a day for two days on site. We were called in on Sunday and again on Tuesday. The task ahead was daunting: clearing debris and searching for victims. There were frequent pauses due to the risk of further collapse; the area was vast. From his current view, the situation remains grave. Photos and videos only tell part of the story; stepping inside makes it a wholly different, heavier reality. After so many years in the field, this may be the most challenging site he has faced”, Semak noted (RFR).
The Crocus City shopping centre became the scene of the attack on March 22. Initial gunfire was followed by arson, and the concert hall itself was set ablaze. Authorities detained the attackers and took them into custody (RFR).
Semak participates in amateur league play and serves as a volunteer at the fire and rescue center of the 245th Fire Station in Kubinka. It is said that when she was 13, a loved one was lost, inspiring her to become a rescuer and give back to the community (RFR).
As a multi-discipline athlete, Semak is a candidate for mastery in sambo, judo, and rugby. He has represented clubs including Slavyanka, Spartak, TsSP Krylatskoye, Torpedo, and Trudovye Reservy, and he contributed to VVA-Podmoskovye’s Russian Rugby-15 Championship title (RFR).
In related coverage, a moment of silence was observed before a France-Chile match, honoring those affected by the Crocus City Hall tragedy (RFR).