Airman Identified After Fatal Fall During Football Game Demonstration
Tech Sgt. Ian Patterson died from injuries sustained when he fell more than 150 feet from the Alamodome rafters before a college football game.
The Air Force has identified the service member who died following a fall from the Alamodome rafters during a pregame demonstration. Tech Sgt. Ian Patterson, of the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment two, at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, sustained fatal injuries after plummeting more than 150 feet before a football game between UTSA and Navy on Saturday night.
Patterson was participating in a fast-rope demonstration from the stadium's rafters when the accident occurred. He received medical attention on the field for approximately 10 minutes before being transported to a local hospital, where he later died, according to a statement from Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs. The incident is currently under investigation.
Nellis Air Force Base confirmed that Patterson had served honorably in the Air Force for 15 years and was assigned to a unit that conducts advanced skills training for special warfare Airmen. He was a native of Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Video footage of the incident showed Patterson falling from the rafters as thousands of spectators watched. Emergency medical personnel on-site quickly attended to him.
Witnesses described a moment of stunned silence following the fall, with the stadium's band stopping its performance. "Everybody was quiet, the band stopped performing. Everybody was dead silent," witness Adrian Corey told KSAT.
Despite the incident, officials decided to proceed with the football game after a 10-minute delay. UTSA ultimately defeated Navy with a score of 38-34. Following the game, many UTSA players participated in a group prayer for the injured Airman.
The American Conference, which includes UTSA and Navy, issued a statement explaining the decision to continue the game. The conference stated that at the time of discussions with institutional representatives and local authorities, the service member's condition had not been publicly confirmed, and Air Force casualty notification procedures were being followed. The decision to continue the game was made to respect the family's privacy and avoid causing additional distress during the notification process.
Later that evening, Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs confirmed Patterson's death. The conference expressed gratitude to the first responders and conveyed condolences to all impacted by the tragedy.
UTSA has offered counseling services to students seeking support in the aftermath of the event. A similar rappelling stunt was performed without incident before a prior game at the Alamodome.