Baseball Fan Dies After Falling 40 Feet From Top Deck During Atlanta Braves Game
A baseball fan has died after falling 40-feet from the top deck at the Turner Field as the Atlanta Braves played the New York Yankees. The fan reportedly fell from the balcony onto the concrete below. Emergency responders rushed to the scene and witnesses say CPR was performed for nearly 10 minutes before the man was taken from the stadium on a stretcher.
DEVELOPING: Scary scene at Turner Field. Fan fell from the upper deck during Braves and Yankees game (via @BryanHoch) pic.twitter.com/x6yuV9mgSO
— 120 Sports (@120Sports) August 30, 2015
The Atlanta Braves were playing the New York Yankees when a fan located on the upper deck landing on the stairway by the third row of Section 101. It was noted that this section of the field, located behind home plate, is by the area that the Braves’ wives and children sit during the game. The Daily Mail notes that the wives and children were taken to an enclosed area where children could be seen crying.
Statement from the Atlanta Braves: pic.twitter.com/bABsS5F97j — Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 30, 2015
Witnesses say that the man hit the wiring behind the electronic screen which caused the entire screen to shake. He then hit the concrete stairway. Paramedics immediately descended upon the scene and moved fleeing fans to other areas of the field. It was noted that paramedics performed CPR on the man for approximately 10 minutes before removing him from the stadium. A pool of blood was left in his wake on the concrete stairs that had been cordoned off by security.
I’m ten rows from where that fan just fell at the #Braves game. Terrifying. Praying he is okay. pic.twitter.com/l8ApldXn8q
— #Bl?ckLivesM?tter (@SKiNNYiLL) August 30, 2015
A fan located on the balcony near where the fan fell claims that the man appeared drunk and was booing Alex Rodriguez when he went over the edge. Despite the claims by witnesses in the balcony, police say an investigation is ongoing.
This photo appears to have been taken just after the man fell at the Braves game https://t.co/HtFBO0GKkH pic.twitter.com/JgPTDHfPKh — Jim Dalrymple II (@JimDalrympleII) August 30, 2015
Witnesses told CNN that the man appeared to be in his 50s or 60s and fell head first from the balcony. Shortly after the Atlanta Braves released a statement sending their thoughts and prayers to the fan, they posted another update that the fan had passed away from his injuries.
Statement from the Atlanta Braves: pic.twitter.com/WvmeT8BaSr — Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 30, 2015
Fans say that the umpires did not stop the game due to the accident and the game continued on as normal. In fact, it was noted that it appeared the players were unaware that anything had happened in the stands.
[Image Credit: Twitter]
