A U.S. Air Force service member died Saturday night after falling while rappelling from the rafters of San Antonio's Alamodome before the UTSA-Navy college football game, a spokesperson for Nellis Air Force Base told Task & Purpose.
The airman was assigned to Detachment 2 of the 6th Combat Training Squadron, the spokesperson said. The unit trains Tactical Air Control Party airmen, who direct airstrikes alongside ground troops. The squadron is based at Nellis in Nevada, while Detachment 2 operates from Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis. The Air Force has not released the airman's name.
Four service members were set to rappel to the field as part of UTSA's annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans game, according to the San Antonio Express-News. About halfway down, one of them appeared to slide much faster than expected and hit the ground hard, the newspaper reported. KSAT said the fall happened just before 7 p.m.
Warning: the video below shows the moment of the fall. Some viewers may find it disturbing.
UTSA staff formed a semicircle around him for about 10 minutes as medical personnel treated him, then he was carried out on a stretcher, the Express-News reported. The San Antonio Fire Department said it took the patient to a hospital as a priority one case with life-threatening injuries. The Air Force later confirmed he had died.
"The incident is under investigation. More information will be released as it becomes available," the Nellis spokesperson said. No cause has been given.
UTSA said it was "deeply saddened" and is offering wellbeing services to students and staff. Kickoff was delayed about 10 minutes, and UTSA went on to beat Navy 38-34.
Photo: U.S. Air Force TACP airmen fast-roping during training (U.S. Air Force photo via DVIDS)
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