What happened at the Alamodome
A member of the U.S. Air Force was injured and later died after falling while rappelling from the ceiling of the Alamodome in San Antonio on Saturday, according to CBS News. The fall occurred during a pregame ceremony, before kickoff of the University of Texas at San Antonio's annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans game against Navy, CBS affiliate KENS reported.
A KENS photographer said the service member landed near the middle of the field. A video posted on social media showed the man, dressed in combat fatigues, quickly descending feet first. Fans were in the stands and a band had assembled nearby on the field. He was treated on the field for several minutes before being taken away on a gurney.
What the Air Force has said
Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs said in a statement that the service member was assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2. He was injured at the stadium and died at a local hospital, the statement said. His identity was not immediately released. CBS News said it had reached out to Nellis for additional comment.
He was one of four military service members scheduled to take part in a rappelling demonstration before the game. According to an Air Force website, they belong to a team of specialists who embed with Army and Marine units and help direct air and artillery strikes from forward ground locations. Their training includes learning to drop rapidly by rope, sometimes from helicopters 100 feet or more above the ground.
The game and reaction from UTSA
The game between the UTSA Roadrunners and the Navy Midshipmen still took place Saturday. UTSA won 38-34. Afterward, the university said it was "deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight's football game." Its statement extended thoughts and prayers to the service member, his family and his military colleagues, and said the school was activating wellbeing services for faculty, staff and students who may be emotionally affected.
University president Taylor Eighmy said, "What was intended to be a day of camaraderie, tradition and celebration has been marked by profound sadness." He offered sympathies to the service member's family, fellow airmen and squadron. In a separate statement, Lisa Campos, UTSA's vice president for intercollegiate athletics, said: "Moments like these remind us that we are all part of something much greater than a game."
What the coach and players saw
UTSA coach Jeff Traylor told reporters after the game that the accident was "heartbreaking" and "tragic." He said the team could see how the incident affected the crowd of more than 23,000 people as soon as players took the field. Traylor said he had only been told there was an "incident" that would delay the start by about 10 minutes.
"You could tell the energy was just gone," Traylor said. "It just really puts things in perspective. It really does."
