An 18-year-old college student has died in Philadelphia after falling from a light pole while celebrating the Eagles’ NFC Championship victory Sunday.
Tyler Sabapathy, a Toronto native and freshman at Temple University, passed away Tuesday after being hospitalized with a brain injury.
Video footage shows the young man slipping and falling on his back, striking his head on the sidewalk, following the Eagles’ 55-23 win against the Washington Commanders.
“The loss of a promising 18-year-old man like Tyler is both tragic and traumatic,” Temple president John Fry and vice president for student affairs Jodi Bailey said in a statement. “There are no words that can make sense of it, and the entire Temple community mourns his passing. Our hearts go out to Tyler’s family, friends, classmates and all who knew and loved him.“
Sabapathy was a member of Temple’s club gymnastics team and was majoring in exercise and sport science.
Witnesses have said Sabapathy climbed to the top of the pole before he fell onto the sidewalk and struck his head. He was taken to a hospital where he died two days later.
Sabapathy had been active in gymnastics for most of his life and earned more than 120 medals in provincial, regional, and international competitions, the statement said.
Philadelphia city officials did not say whether the utility poles had been greased to discourage fans from climbing them, a tactic used in the past.
Local news reports said police and emergency personnel have met to discuss how to handle a potential celebration if the Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX on 9 February in New Orleans.
