Spectators invade the pitch of the Stade de France stadium at the end of the international friendly soccer match between France and Germany in Saint Denis, outside Paris on Saturday.
"It sounded like a cannon going off."
That's how Tauranga's Kelsey O'Dea, 21, described the explosions that rocked the French national football stadium, marking the beginning of the terror attacks on Paris on Saturday (NZT).
She had gone to the Stade de France with a Canadian friend.
"I don't go to football games often, so I asked the guy next to me in French what the noise was and he said he didn't know. He said maybe it was to create atmosphere for the crowd," she said.
"Not realising that the sounds were actually explosions, the crowd was actually cheering when they went off."
But during the second half of the game between France and Germany, Miss O'Dea began receiving text messages from a flatmate warning her of shootings outside and near to the stadium.
"I wasn't aware of the magnitude of what had happened, though."
Miss O'Dea left the stadium, following instructions to use specific exits, and headed for a meeting place arranged with friends.
"As we were walking there, however, all of a sudden crowds of people in that direction started running towards us, some screaming.
"We had no idea what was happening but Maddie grabbed my arm and we turned around and just started running," she said.
"Even now I still don't know what happened to cause that. It could have just been police blocking off that area and telling people to go in the other direction quickly and some people ran, causing a chain reaction in the crowd? Regardless, it was very scary."
Miss O'Dea said the internet had crashed so it was impossible to check for news.
"We did not want to risk sticking around in case there was a bomber or shooter there. We didn't know where to go, though, and didn't know if the metros were safe or not.
"In the end we walked around for maybe an hour and also contacted our families to let them know we were safe when the internet network was working again. (We) managed to flag down an unoccupied taxi and it took us home."
At that point, her phone was flooded with delayed messages from family and friends.
"Mum sounded very calm on the phone, which I am sure was for my benefit at the time, in order to make sure I didn't freak out. (I) have received several phone calls from her and Dad since then, checking in."
Miss O'Dea is on an exchange from Victoria University to the Paris Institute of Political Studies, known as Sciences Po.
The unprecedented attacks left at least 129 people dead.
They died in a series of terror attacks across Paris, involving gunfire and explosives.
The death toll is expected to rise.
Terrorist group Isis has claimed it is behind the deadly attacks.
An MFAT spokesman yesterday said there were no New Zealanders on the list of dead or injured people in Paris.NZME
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