07 May 2024 , 15:05
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A university graduation ceremony continued uninterrupted after being hit by tragedy as a person fell to their death from the stadium's stands.
Ohio State University's graduation ceremony was marred by a heartbreaking incident on Sunday when an individual fell from the stands at Ohio Stadium, according to local news outlets. Details surrounding the tragic event remain scarce, including the cause of the fall and the identity of the deceased.
It has yet to be confirmed whether the victim was a student or a guest attending the commencement. The Columbus Dispatch reported that around 12.30pm, an emergency call was made with the caller requesting: "I need medics and some officers at gate 30 (of Ohio Stadium)... had one fall off the stadium."
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The body has not yet been identified (WBNS)
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A witness said the person fell as the last of the graduates filed past the area, with some students left visibly upset and shaken in the aftermath. Ben Johnson, an OSU spokesperson, informed the newspaper: "An individual fell from the stands. They are deceased.
"We have no additional details to share at this time. Police and emergency responders are on the scene. For anyone affected by today's incident, we will make counselling and other support services available."
Despite the tragedy, the graduation proceeded as planned, although a sombre atmosphere enveloped the attendees as word of the fatal accident spread among the students and their guests. Post-ceremony, many graduates passed near the site of the fall, which was cordoned off with crime scene tape, as noted by The Columbus Dispatch.
The university is reportedly unable to disclose the identity of the deceased, and no further information was immediately available, according to Johnson. The coroner is also reportedly in the process of determining the person's identity - suggesting that the university likely doesn't yet know who it was.
None of the speakers at the graduation ceremony mentioned the incident, it has been reported. However, several people were visibly shaken by the news, as seen in the stands, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
It was reported that 12,555 students received their diplomas on Sunday. Protests over the Gaza war disrupted campuses nationwide, including Ohio State, and over 30 students and demonstrators face misdemeanor charges after the university cracked down on the protests on Thursday. The protests didn't impact the graduation ceremony.
The Ohio Stadium has a capacity of 102,780, making it the fourth largest on-campus facility in the US. It is home to the Ohio State Buckeyes and known locally as 'The Shoe' due to its horseshoe shape which allows the crowd to always face the field.