San Francisco 49ers Fan Drops Dead At Game Inside Blazing Hot Levi’s Stadum
A San Francisco 49ers fan died at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday during the third quarter of the preseason game against the Denver Broncos. ABC News reports that the 49ers fan died of an apparent heart issue despite the efforts of paramedics who tried to revive him during the game inside the newly opened stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
The fan, whose name has not been released, was sitting in a hot, sun drenched area of the stadium where temperatures reportedly reached well into the 80s. The high temps forced many fans to leave the stadium long before the game ended. San Jose Mercury News reports that while there is no confirmation that the San Francisco 49ers fan’s death was due to the heat, teams officials stated that there were an “unusually high number of calls for emergency services” during Sunday’s game.
First game at new #LevisStadium takes sad turn-fan has heart attack, later dies. @49ers “deeply saddened” #KTVU 7:34a pic.twitter.com/MoakgwJyW4
— Alex Savidge (@AlexSavidge) August 18, 2014
The Santa Clara Fire Department told reporters that paramedics were called to Section 221 at approximately 3:05 p.m. after being alerted that a fan was in distress. CPR was administered and the man was then transported out of the stadium on a stretcher in front of a crowd of worried onlookers.
A Mercury News reporter on the scene witnessed a “middle-aged man in a gold 49ers jersey” being rushed out of the stadium. The unidentified man was not moving, lying unconscious on a stretcher. The man was taken to O’Connor Hospital in San Jose where he was pronounced dead upon arrival in the emergency room.
The San Francisco 49ers offered condolences to the family of the fan who died during the 49ers game in a statement issued on Sunday night.
“The 49ers organization is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of one of our fans earlier today. We would like to extend our heartfelt condolences and prayers to his family and friends in this time of sadness.”
Levi’s Stadium officially opened on July 17, 2014 and has been selected to be the host stadium for Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016. The San Francisco 49ers fan who died on Sunday is not the first death to happen at the brand new stadium. Prior to the stadium opening in July, two construction workers died in separate incidents.
The New York Daily News reports that elevator mechanic Donald White, 63, was killed in June 2013 when a counterweight struck him while working in the elevator shaft. Four months later, Edward Lake II, 60, was killed while unloading building materials at Levi’s Stadium.
[Image: @AlexSavidge Twitter]
