SAN ANTONIO — A military service member was rushed to a local hospital Saturday night after falling while attempting to rappel from the ceiling of the Alamodome before a college football game, authorities and school officials confirmed.
The incident took place approximately 15 minutes prior to kickoff ahead of the University of Texas at San Antonio’s annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans contest, according to ESPN. Four service members were scheduled to descend on ropes from the arena’s high rafters down to the turf. Witnesses reported that one participant appeared to lose control midway through the descent and dropped rapidly before striking the ground.
The San Antonio Fire Department reported that the fall occurred just before 7 p.m., local television station KSAT reported. Stadium medical personnel rushed to the field immediately, attending to the injured service member for roughly 10 minutes before placing him onto a stretcher and transporting him away from the stadium, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
Witnesses describe sudden drop on field
Spectators inside the domed venue described an abrupt shift in the pregame atmosphere as the demonstration went awry. Witness Adrian Corey told KSAT that the fall occurred as the university marching band was performing.
“Once the band started playing, there was a guy that fell down and started coming down fast,” Corey told the station, adding that “everybody was quiet, the band stopped performing, everybody was dead silent.”
Another spectator, Siomara Corey, told KSAT that the scene left onlookers shaken, noting that spectators were left without immediate information about his condition other than requests for prayers.
A spokesperson for UTSA confirmed to ESPN that the rappelling team belonged to Detachment 2 of the 6th Combat Training Squadron, stationed at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis. The San Antonio Express-News reported that the four participants were Army officers.
University reacts and activates campus support
Following the accident, university officials issued a statement expressing sympathy and offering assistance to those who witnessed the fall.
“We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight’s game,” UTSA officials said in the statement. “Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the soldier who was affected, his family and his military colleagues.”
The university also announced that it was deploying campus well-being resources to provide emotional support to students, faculty members and staff who witnessed the trauma or were affected by the event.
Kickoff for the game was delayed by about 10 minutes following the medical emergency. Most news organizations, including ESPN, KSAT and USA TODAY Sports, reported that UTSA was playing the Navy Midshipmen, while Bleacher Report identified the opponent as Army. UTSA held a 21-20 lead over Navy at halftime, according to USA TODAY Sports.
Officials have not publicly disclosed the identity of the injured service member or the precise extent of his injuries. The current medical condition of the soldier remained unknown early Sunday.
