- A person fell to their death at The Ohio State University’s graduation ceremony
- Police and first responded blocked off a portion at the football stadium
- The ceremony continued but left those who had witnessed the jump shaken
One person has died at Ohio State University’s graduation ceremony after falling to their death from the stadium stands.
A call was placed to the emergency services at around 12:30pm on Sunday afternoon. The person fell as students were walking in to the ceremony at the campus’ football stadium – and many did not know about the tragedy until after the event.
‘I need medics and some officers at gate 30 (of Ohio Stadium)… had one fall off the stadium’, came the call.
‘An individual fell from the stands. They are deceased,’ said OSU spokesperson Ben Johnson.
‘We have no additional details to share at this time. Police and emergency responders are on scene. For anyone affected by today’s incident, we will make counseling and other support resources available,’ Johnson added.
A person fell to their death from the stands just as Ohio State University’s graduation ceremony was getting underway on Sunday
Some reports have suggested the person jumped deliberately from the stands just as graduates were filing into the stadium through one of the tunnels
The scene where the person fell is seen roped off with crime scene tape
The OSU stadium is several stories high
Emergency services were quick to respond after the incident occurred at about 12:30pm
Police cordoned off an extensive area of land around the perimeter of the the stadium
Many attendees had no idea what had happened but those who saw the tragedy were in shock
On social media those who were present at the ceremony claimed the person who fell, did so deliberately.
‘News and campus keep saying ‘fell’, witnesses say ‘jumped’. There was no yelling, no scream, they jumped’, wrote Lexi.
‘They aren’t 100% sure but yes witnesses said the person jumped from what I’ve heard’, added Chelsie. ‘I know people who saw and heard it. Awful for everyone involved.
‘I was there, I worked there today and heard about it an hour after I happened. They just kept moving with the day like nothing happened’, stated Kellie.
A portion of land outside the stadium is cordoned off following the death of a student who fell
Police can be seen standing around inside an area which was sealed off from the public
Families and students can be seen piling into the stadium earlier on Sunday
Police made sure the area was secure following the fall
A spokesperson for The Ohio State University said the person fell from the stands and died
Tongke Wang, a student from China, decorated her mortar board
President Ted Carter speaks during the Ohio State Spring 2024 Commencement held on Sunday but made no mention of the death
One witness recalled how they saw the person fall just as graduates were entering the stadium in the southeast corner, using a tunnel usually used by football players during OSU home games.
By the time the ceremony was over, students were seen leaving the ceremony walking past a cordoned off area where the body had fallen, reports the Columbus Dispatch.
A reporter for the Dispatch said people in the stands who had witnessed the fall were visibly upset.
‘For anyone affected by today’s incident, we will make counseling and other support resources available,’ an Ohio State University spokesperson said in a statement.
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