A US Air Force airman died after he fell from the ceiling of the Alamodome stadium during a fast-rope demonstration ahead of a football game on Saturday.
The airman was identified as Tech. Sgt. The incident also brought activity on the field to a halt. The demonstration had been scheduled as part of the pregame coin toss ceremony. The American Conference expressed grief over the death of the service member and extended condolences to his family, friends and colleagues from the 57th Wing.
The airman fell from a height of around 170 feet while rappelling in a pregame demonstration before the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) game against Navy, reported The New York Post. Patterson was originally from Fort Stewart, Georgia, and had served in the US Air Force for 15 years, according to Nellis Air Force Base. Owned by the City of San Antonio, the Alamodome has a ceiling approximately 170 feet above the ground. Around 23,297 fans were present at the stadium for Saturday’s game.
The incident took place during the university’s “Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans” event. Ian Patterson, a Tactical Air Control Party instructor, according to CBS News. UTSA staff members formed a semicircle around the injured airman before he was moved on a stretcher, according to the San Antonio Express-News. Adrian Corey, who witnessed the fall, told KSAT that the crowd fell silent and the band stopped performing following the incident. It said representatives of both participating universities, Alamodome management, local authorities and a working group met with Commissioner Tim Pernetti during the game to review the available information and discuss the next steps.
