Fans are questioning why UTSA’s college football game against Navy went ahead after a US Air Force service member fell 150ft from the rafters in a pregame stunt that went horribly wrong.
Thousands of fans watched the man fall as part of the pregame coin toss in San Antonio, suffering devastating injuries in the process, before he was treated on the field for 10 minutes by medics.
The unidentified military member was rushed to hospital, and it was confirmed on Sunday morning that he had died of his injuries. As yet, it is unclear exactly what time he died, but the game was only delayed by 10 minutes before continuing as planned.
The decision to play on was a controversial one, with many fans inside the stadium taking to social media to share their shock at what they had witnessed – many of them children.
On X, one viewer wrote of the circumstances: ‘He died. They still played the football game. No postponement … Am I the only person disturbed by this?’
Another added: ‘I’m not sure if I witnessed someone fall from the rafters before a football game, I’d stick around for the game. I’m surprised they made the decision to play.’
Video captured by San Antonio resident James Larken Smith showed the officer hit the turf
A third claimed: ‘Dying at the Alamodome in front of a few thousand people and they still play the game afterwards and no one really gives a s*** they watched you die.’
In a statement released on Sunday morning, a spokesperson for the Joint Base San Antonio Public Affairs said: ‘A service member assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, died following an incident at a University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) game.
‘The service member was injured there, transported to a local hospital, where they later died. The incident is under investigation. More information will be released as it becomes available.’
Other critics of the incident disagreed with the decision to have active servicemen participating in pregame festivities at football games.
One said: ‘Why tf are we risking soldiers lives for this?’
Another, meanwhile, insisted: ‘Why is this even a thing? We don’t need our military defying death within the states, they already do that abroad.’
As the investigation continues into the man’s death, the public awaits confirmation of the identity of the tragic military member.
Late on Saturday night, the American Conference, which includes both Navy and UTSA, released a statement before news of the airman’s death had been revealed.
‘The American Conference is deeply saddened by tonight’s pregame incident at the Alamodome,’ read the statement. ‘Our thoughts are with the individual involved, their family and colleagues, and everyone who witnessed or was affected by it.
A military member rappels from the stadium rafters in a previous demonstration
The ceiling at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas is 180ft above the field
‘We consulted with representatives of both participating member institutions, Alamodome management, local authorities and a working group to review the information available,’ the statement continued.
‘We respect the family’s privacy and will coordinate any further updates with the appropriate authorities. We are also working with our member institutions to help connect those affected with available support resources.’
In a similar statement sent to the Daily Mail, a UTSA spokesperson said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight’s football game. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the soldier who was affected, his family and his military colleagues.
‘We recognize that members of our campus community may be emotionally affected by this incident and are activating wellbeing services to support our faculty, staff and students.’
