A U.S. Air Force service member died after falling 150 feet in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday, Oct. 17, in a display before the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and Naval Academy game at the Alamodome Stadium.
The Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs issued a statement, per ESPN, confirming that a service member, who was assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, was injured at the stadium. He died at a local hospital.
The incident is under investigation.
The identity of the service member has not been released.
What Happened?
The incident occurred during the pregame ceremony, which was supposed to be in honor of UTSA’s annual Salute to Armed Forces & Veterans game. Four officers were going to rappel down to the field 15 minutes before kickoff, but one officer lost control, sliding down the line and crashed to the ground.
He was immediately tended to by medical personnel and was taken on a stretcher to a local hospital.
“We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight’s game,” UTSA said in a statement. “Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the soldier who was affected, his family and his military colleagues.”
The school is also offering well-being services for faculty, staff, and students who are emotionally affected by this tragedy.
The game was delayed by 10 minutes, but was ultimately played with USTA defeating the Midshipmen 38-34.
After the game, UTSA coach Jeff Traylor called the accident “heartbreaking” and “tragic.”
“You could tell the energy was just gone,” he said. “It just really puts things in perspective. It really does.”
UTSA quarterback Owen McCown also addressed the accident.
“I know we said a prayer postgame, but they’ll continue being our thoughts and prayers, and really thinking about them,” he began.
“It’s hard. I just think as players too, my thoughts go immediately with the family,” McCown added. “It’s obviously bigger than football. And then as just the game went on, kind of got the ebbs and flows, and getting back to playing football. And I thought at first, it was hard to get around, and then finally got going again.”
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones Releases A Statement
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones also released a statement following the incident.
“I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of an Air Force service member following an unfortunate accident at Saturday’s UTSA-Navy football game,” she wrote in a social media post. “We will keep his family in our prayers. May perpetual light shine upon him.”
U.S. Air Force Service Member Dies in Tragic 150-Foot Fall at College Football Game