Tragedy in Texas last night, as a fan died after falling 20 feet while trying to catch a foul ball that was thrown to him.
Shannon Stone, a Brownwood, Texas, firefighter attending the game with his young son, was along the left field outfield wall when Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton threw a foul ball his way in the second inning.
Stone, 39, leaned over the rail to catch the ball and fell through an opening behind the outfield fence.
He fell 20 feet as his son looked on in horror. Stone was then rushed to a hospital where he died, the Arlington Fire Department said.
The fall, captured on video, shows Stone’s son reaching toward his dad as he tumbled over the railing.
Hamilton “is very distraught over this, as the entire team is,” said former pitcher and Rangers team president Nolan Ryan.
“We had a very tragic accident tonight, and one of our fans lost their life reaching over the rail trying to get a ball,” Ryan also said. “As an organization, and as our team members and our staff, we’re very heavy-hearted about this, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0nA-X-5MKA
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