A member of the Air Force has died from his injuries after he fell while attempting to rappel from the rafters of the Alamodome during a pregame demonstration before UTSA's football game against Navy on Saturday, the Air Force said.
Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs issued a statement saying the service member, who was assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, was injured at the stadium and died at a local hospital.
The incident is under investigation. The Air Force base did not release the service member's identity.
As part of a pregame ceremony for UTSA's annual Salute to Armed Forces & Veterans game, four officers were set to rappel down to the field 15 minutes before kickoff. The officer appeared to lose control while descending, sliding down the line and crashing to the turf.
Medical personnel immediately attended to the officer, and he was taken from the Alamodome on a stretcher and transported to the hospital.
"We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight's game," UTSA said in a statement. "Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the soldier who was affected, his family and his military colleagues."
The school said it was activating well-being services to support faculty, staff and students who might be emotionally affected by the incident.
The game was played after the kickoff was delayed by 10 minutes.
"I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of an Air Force service member following an unfortunate accident at Saturday's UTSA-Navy football game," San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said in a social media post. "We will keep his family in our prayers. May perpetual light shine upon him."
Information from ESPN's Max Olson and The Associated Press was used in this report.
