Atlanta: A baseball fan has died after falling over 15 metres from the top deck of Turner Field in Atlanta.
Gregory Murrey, 60, of Alpharetta, Georgia, reportedly plunged over a balcony during the seventh innings of the game between the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees on Saturday night.
Witnesses said EMTs were performing CPR on Murrey for around 10 minutes after the fall onto the concrete at field level behind home plate.
He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, but the Atlanta Police Department confirmed he died a short time later.
Announcers for Fox Sports 1 said they saw Murrey, a season ticket holder at Turner Field, drop near the radio commentary boxes.
Atlanta police are still determining why Murrey fell, but the department does not suspect any foul play. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office will be performing an autopsy.
Some spectators suggested the fan was screaming at Alex Rodriguez, who was getting ready to bat as a pinch hitter for the Yankees at the time, when he lost his balance and fell. Umpires did not stop the game.
A witness who requested that she not be identified said she was sat in the row in front of Murrey when he began yelling at the Yankees player.
“All of the sudden, he just flew right over the rail,” she told ESPN. “I can’t even function right now.”
Chris Shearn from the YES Network wrote on Twitter: “They were immediately doing CPR on the fan who fell out of upper deck. Thoughts and prayers.”
According to Mike Feinsand from the New York Daily News, the body appeared to make contact with a wire connected to the screen behind home plate.
Fans fled the scene immediately while others tried to shield their children’s eyes to make sure they did not witness the horrific scene. There was blood left on the concrete surface around the seats after Murrey was put on a backboard.
Reports suggest he fell near to where the Braves’ wives and family sits. They were taken to an enclosed room with some of the children, including Braves outfielder Cameron Maybin’s son, crying.
A statement from the Braves after the incident read: “There was an accident during tonight’s game involving a fan. The fan was immediately treated at the scene and transported to a local hospital.”
They later confirmed that the fan had died: “We have received confirmation that the fan involved in an accident at this evening’s game has passed away. The Atlanta Braves offer their deepest condolences to the family.”
After the game, which the Yankees won 3-1, Braves pitcher Matt Wisler said: “Huge condolences go out to that family. You never want to hear something like that. We were all in the dugout paying more attention to that than the game when it first happened.
“That’s terribly sad to hear. We really hope for the best for that family. That’s sad to see something tragic like that happen at a game.”
Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius, who was on second base after having doubled in catcher Brian McCann, said: “I saw him falling, like right in front of the press box. Then he hit the wires. Crazy.”
He said it was difficult to focus on the game after seeing Murrey fall.
“I was thinking about it the whole time,” he said. “All I can say is my condolences to the family.”
About 40 to 50 Yankees family members were sitting in section 202, next to the aisle in which Murrey fell.
McCann, who used to play for the Braves before moving to the Yankees, said his wife, mother and children were watching the game from section 202, but that his wife and children left the game before the incident.
“My mom was right in the mix,” he told ESPN. “All our families are up there, so you’re just praying for the best. They were close. They were real close. Our hearts go out to the family. It’s sickening.”
Yankees closer Andrew Miller said he saw the incident from the bullpen. “‘I mean, most of us saw the net shaking, ‘cause we were all watching Alex come up’, he said. I know it was kind of close to where a lot of the tickets are left for our families and stuff, so guys were kinda freaked out about that… Terrible situation. I don’t know what else to say.”
A security guard in the family members holding room said witnesses saw Murrey trying to grab on to a wire holding up the protective net behind home plate to under the press box before falling, causing it to shake for several seconds.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said third-base umpire Dana DeMuth and Yankee’s third-base coach Joe Espada alerted him of the incident, after Espada made several gestures to the dugout mimicking a person falling.
“I just remember I’m thinking, what does that mean? I didn’t understand at first,” he told ESPN. “That’s really said, that something like that could happen at a ballpark.”
Fans at the stadium were shaken to hear that someone had fallen from the upper deck during the game.
“I think it’s pretty scary to think that a fan could fall off the top deck,” Tim Cincotta told FOX 5 Atlanta. “I think maybe they should add some more security or something just to keep fans from falling over.”
It is the second time in two years a spectator has fallen from the stands at the Atlanta stadium.
In September 2013, Ronald Lee Homer jr fell 80ft after climbing over the railings. His death was ruled a suicide.
Another man fell to his death in 2008. Justin Hayes, 25, fell an estimated four levels inside the stadium to field level, striking a concrete and metal railing.
He was taken to the hospital but later died of his injuries. – Daily Mail