- One person dies after falling at Ohio State University graduation ceremony
- Police and first responders blocked off a portion of the football stadium.
- The ceremony continued but left those who witnessed the jump shocked.
One person died at Ohio State University’s graduation ceremony after falling from the stadium stands.
A call was made to emergency services at around 12.30pm on Sunday. The person fell as students walked to the ceremony at the campus football stadium, and many did not learn of the tragedy until after the event.
“I need medics and some officials at Gate 30 (of Ohio Stadium)…one fell out of the stadium,” the call came.
‘An individual fell from the stands. They are deceased,” said OSU spokesman Ben Johnson.
‘We have no additional details to share at this time. Police and first responders are at the scene. “For anyone affected by today’s incident, we will make counseling and other support resources available,” Johnson added.
One person fell to his death from the stands just as Ohio State University’s graduation ceremony began on Sunday.
The person fell from the stands just as the graduates were entering the stadium through one of the tunnels.
The scene where the person fell is seen cordoned off with crime scene tape
OSU’s stadium is several stories tall.
Emergency services responded quickly after the incident occurred at around 12:30 p.m.
The name of the deceased person has not been released.
On social media, those who were present at the ceremony stated that the person who fell did so deliberately.
‘The news and the campus keep saying “he fell”, the witnesses say “he jumped.” There were no screams, no screams, they jumped,’ wrote a TikTok user named Lexi.
“They’re not 100% sure, but yes, witnesses said the person jumped from what I heard,” Chelsie added. ‘I know people who saw it and heard it. Horrible for everyone involved.
‘I was there, I worked there today and I found out an hour later what happened. They continued to move forward with the day as if nothing had happened,” said another social media user named Kellie.
A field outside the stadium is cordoned off after a person dies after falling from the stands
Police can be seen standing inside an area that was closed to the public.
Families and students can be seen entering the stadium earlier on Sunday.
Tongke Wang, a student from China, decorated her cap for Ohio State University’s graduation ceremony.
University President Ted Carter speaks during Ohio State’s spring 2024 graduation ceremony on Sunday, but he did not mention the death.
One witness recalled seeing the person fall just as graduates were entering the stadium in the southeast corner, using a tunnel often used by football players during OSU home games.
When the ceremony ended, students were seen leaving the ceremony walking through a cordoned off area where the body had fallen, the police reported. Columbus Office.
A Dispatch reporter said that 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.