US airman dies as daredevil descent goes wrong before Texas college football game
Tech Sergeant Ian Patterson fell around 170 feet during a fast-rope demonstration at San Antonio's Alamodome before the UTSA-Navy game and later died of his injuries.
A United States airman has died after falling during a daredevil rope descent at San Antonio's Alamodome ahead of a college football game.
Tech Sergeant Ian Patterson was one of four airmen taking part in a fast-rope demonstration before the University of Texas at San Antonio's game against Navy. He lost control during the descent and plunged around one hundred and seventy feet toward the field as thousands of fans watched.
Patterson, a Tactical Air Control Party instructor assigned to Joint Base San Antonio, was treated on the field and rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries. He later died. The fifteen-year veteran was named the Air Force Special Warfare Enlisted Instructor of the Year in 2022.
The Air Force says the incident is under investigation. The game went ahead as scheduled, a decision officials said was made before his death was confirmed.
Reporting based on coverage from BBC News.