During Ohio State University's graduation ceremony on May 5, a tragic incident unfolded at Ohio Stadium as an individual fell from the stands and passed away, according to school officials.
The university has not disclosed the identity of the deceased and has no further details to provide at this time.
Ohio State University Graduation Tragedy
An officer urgently called for assistance over the OSU police radio around 12:30 p.m., stating the need for medics and officers at gate 30 of Ohio Stadium due to an individual falling from the stands.
OSU spokesperson Ben Johnson confirmed the incident, stating, "An individual fell from the stands. They are deceased."
He added that police and emergency responders were at the scene, and counseling and support resources would be available for those affected.
Johnson added, "For anyone affected by today's incident, we will make counseling and other support resources available."
Despite the tragedy, the commencement ceremony proceeded without interruption, although news of the death circulated among attendees. Students exiting the ceremony passed by the cordoned-off area where the incident occurred.
As of 8 a.m. Monday, no further information about the incident had been released by police or university officials.
Johnson explained that details such as the person's identity, including age, gender, or student status, could not be disclosed at that time.
The Franklin County coroner's office indicated it was working to identify the victim, with an eyewitness expressing shock at the incident, noting it occurred as the last graduates were entering the stadium through the football players' tunnel.
According to Dispatch reporter Jordan Laird, who attended the ceremony, individuals in the stands and some students were visibly distressed by the events.
As ceremony attendees departed from the location, some encountered the presence of police tape and first responders at the incident.
Fatal Fall During the Ceremony
During the commencement ceremony at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, university officials and commencement speakers, including social entrepreneur and OSU alum Chris Pan, did not mention the tragic incident that occurred earlier.
Pan's speech covered topics like world peace, Bitcoin, and he even performed 'This Little Light of Mine.'
The ceremony, held in the expansive Ohio Stadium with a capacity of over 100,000 seats, featured guests seated across multiple levels of bleachers, as depicted in video footage shared by Ohio State.
According to the university, a total of 12,555 degrees and certificates were conferred to students from all states and numerous countries during Sunday's ceremony.
Chris Pan, known for his roles as a social entrepreneur, musician, and motivational speaker, served as the designated commencement speaker for the event.
In response to the incident, the university is actively working to provide counseling and support resources for those affected, as confirmed by Johnson.
While stadium fatalities are not uncommon, particularly with the trend of constructing larger stadiums to accommodate larger audiences, experts note that measures such as renovations for increased seating and the installation of safety railings have been undertaken over the years at Ohio Stadium.
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