A serviceman was taken from the Alamodome on a stretcher after falling from the rafters during a pregame skills demonstration, and a UTSA spokesperson said the officer was transported to an area hospital.
Four officers were scheduled to rappel onto the field from the rafters of the Alamodome before the pregame coin toss for UTSA’s home game against Navy Saturday night.
About halfway down the descent, one of the four appeared to slide uncontrollably and crash to the ground. No update on his condition was immediately available.
UTSA personnel formed a semi-circle around the motionless officer for about 10 minutes while medical personnel tended to the man, who was wearing combat fatigues. He was loaded onto a stretcher and carried through the Alamodome tunnel.
The recall team belonged to Detachment 2 of the 6th Combat Training Squadron. The Air Force unit trains tactical air controllers and operates out of Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland’s Chapman Training Annex and Camp Bullis, an Army training camp in northern Bexar County.
The game against Navy is UTSA’s annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans game. The emergency delayed the start of the competition by approximately 10 minutes.
As part of their training, they learn to use a “fast rope” from structures 15 to 30 feet high and practice rappelling from helicopters hovering 100 feet or more above the ground.
This video shows staff practicing both skills.
Gn sports
