A service member with an Air Force training unit died Saturday night after falling while rappelling from the rafters at a San Antonio college football game.
A spokesperson for Nellis Air Force Base confirmed that a service member assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2 died from injuries sustained in a fall ahead of the University of Texas San Antonio and Naval Academy game at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
The incident happened during a pregame rappelling demonstration ahead of UTSA’s annual Salute to Armed Forces & Veterans game. Four military members were to rappel from the rafters of the Alamodome to the ground. According to the San Antonio Express-News, halfway through the descent, one person slid down the rope in “an uncontrolled manner” and hit the ground hard. Football staff rushed to the injured man and medical personnel provided first aid before the injured airman was put on a stretcher.
The San Antonio Fire Department told Task & Purpose that it transported a person with life threatening injury to a hospital. The Air Force later confirmed that the airman had died.
“The incident is under investigation. More information will be released as it becomes available,” the Nellis spokesperson said.
The Air Force did not identify the deceased.
Prior to the Air Force’s announcement that the service member died, a spokesperson for UTSA Athletics confirmed that the rappel team was made up of members of 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2. That is an Air Force unit that trains tactical air controllers. Tactical Air Control Party members are airmen who embed with soldiers and Marines and direct and coordinate airstrikes from ground positions.
The 6th Combat Training Squadron is based out of Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, although Detachment 2 operates from Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis.
This is a developing story.
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