Nellis Air Force Base Service Member Dies in Rappelling Accident at UTSA Game
A U.S. service member died after falling while rappelling during a pre-game demonstration ahead of a college football game in San Antonio.
An Air Force member died after falling while rappelling during a military demonstration prior to a football game at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Following the incident, the American Athletic Conference decided to proceed with the match, and it was announced that the fallen service member was 15-year veteran Technical Sergeant Ian Patterson.
A tragic accident occurred during a rappelling demonstration from the roof toward the field prior to the annual Armed Forces and Veterans Appreciation game between the University of Texas at San Antonio and Navy. The on-duty military personnel fell heavily to the ground in full view of the crowded stands and the marching band on the field. Treated on the field for minutes, the soldier was taken to the hospital on a stretcher but could not be saved despite medical interventions.
Following the incident, statements by the U.S. military identified the deceased soldier as Technical Sergeant Ian Patterson, a tactical air control party instructor assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron. It was shared that Patterson, a 15-year veteran from Fort Stewart, Georgia, was named the Air Force-level special warfare enlisted instructor of the year in 2022. While the university and coach Jeff Traylor expressed deep sorrow over the incident, the match was played with a delay of about 10 minutes, and UTSA won the contest 38-34.