Temple University Gymnast, 18, Dies After Falling from Light Pole While Celebrating Eagles Win
Tyler Sabapathy was one of many revelers who climbed light poles amid the celebration in the streets of Philadelphia on Sunday, Jan. 26
An 18-year-old student at Temple University has died after falling from a light pole while celebrating the Philadelphia Eagles’ NFC championship win over the weekend.
Tyler Sabapathy, of Toronto, Canada, died on Tuesday, Jan. 28 after suffering head injuries following the accident on Sunday during a celebration in Center City, the university said in a statement.
Sabapathy fell onto his back and hit his head on the concrete after climbing a light pole at the intersection of 15th and Market streets, ABC affiliate WPVI-TV reported.
He was transported to Jefferson Hospital in critical condition and died on Tuesday afternoon, officials said.
Sabapathy was a first-year student at the Philadelphia university and was a member of its club gymnastics team. A decorated gymnast, he had won more than 120 medals in competitions, the school said.
The freshman was studying exercise and sports science at Temple’s College of Public Health.
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“He no doubt had a bright future ahead of him, and it is so tragic that we will not be able to see how he would have made his mark on the world,” the school said in the statement, and added that he displayed “exceptional self-discipline and work ethic” and “was already a thriving student” at the university.
"There are no words that can make sense of it, and the entire Temple community mourns his passing," the university said. "Our hearts go out to Tyler’s family, friends, classmates and all who knew and loved him."
Video taken at the scene of the celebration on the streets of Philadelphia showed multiple revelers, including Sabapathy, climbing light poles, as wall-to-wall people crammed the streets and enjoyed an impromptu fireworks display.
Elsewhere in the area on Sunday, a woman drove a car into the crowd and injured eight people at North Broad and Spring Garden streets about 9:30 p.m.
The suspect was later arrested. A police spokesperson told USA Today on Wednesday, Jan. 29 that the case is under investigation.
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