A military service member assigned to Nellis Air Force Base died Saturday after falling during a pregame rappelling demonstration at the University of Texas at San Antonio's annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans game against Navy at the Alamodome.
The airman, assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, was one of four service members scheduled to rappel from the ceiling to midfield. Video posted on social media showed the man in combat fatigues descending quickly feet first before hitting the ground hard. He was treated on the field for several minutes before being taken to a local hospital, where he later died. His identity has not been released.
According to an Air Force website, the participants were tactical air control party specialists who embed with Army and Marine units to direct air and artillery strikes. Their training includes rapid rope drops, sometimes from helicopters 100 feet or more above ground. An investigation into the incident is underway.
The game was delayed about 10 minutes. UTSA won 38-34 before a crowd of over 23,000. In a statement, the university offered counseling resources and said it was "deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight's game. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the soldier who was affected, his family and his military colleagues."
UTSA Coach Jeff Traylor called the accident "heartbreaking" and "tragic," saying the team could feel the energy leave the stadium as players arrived on the field. "You could tell the energy was just gone," Traylor said. "It just really puts things in perspective. It really does."
Sources: 8 News Now
Original reporting: 8 News Now →
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