The Eagles Fan Who Fell Off the Light Pole Died

The Eagles fan who fell off the light pole died. He was an 18-year-old Temple student and gymnast. This is from Sharrie Williams and the Action News digital staff:

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — An 18-year-old man has died after he fell from a light pole during celebrations after the Eagles NFC Championship win this weekend.

Action News has learned the victim was a first-year Temple University student.

“It is with deep sadness that we write to share news of the death of first-year student Tyler Sabapathy. Over the weekend, Tyler sustained critical injuries and ultimately passed away this afternoon,” the university released in a statement Tuesday night. “The loss of a promising 18-year-old man like Tyler is both tragic and traumatic. There are no words that can make sense of it, and the entire Temple community mourns his passing. Our hearts go out to Tyler’s family, friends, classmates and all who knew and loved him.”

It was originally reported late Monday night/early Tuesday morning that Sabapathy was on life support.

Video shows him falling off a light pole, hitting the street sign on the way down, and then landing on the ground. It’s hard to see because of the crowds of people blocking the sidewalk, but Action News is reporting that he “fell onto the concrete sidewalk flat on his back, hitting his head.” He suffered a brain injury and died at Jefferson Hospital.

Sabapathy was a Canada native and committed to Temple a little less than a year ago:

A big congratulations to Tyler Sabapathy, Gr. 12, on his commitment to Temple University for gymnastics!
Read more about this incredibly talented student-athlete and his decision to head south of the border after graduation:https://t.co/qkDBWkhluI#smcsathletics #smcsimpact pic.twitter.com/INWSB6tsJC

— St. Michael’s C.S. (@SMCS1852) March 13, 2024

A college freshman. Hadn’t even turned 19.

He’s quoted in an article from his high school, which says this, in part:

“In Canada, there are no universities that offer a competitive gymnastics programme, so over the past few years, I have researched and visited many U.S. universities, eventually landing on Temple,” says Sabapathy. “Many factors, including location, academic opportunities, and a strong gymnastics programme, influenced my decision.”

Sabapathy plans to pursue a bachelor of science in exercise and sport science. The four-year undergraduate degree offered through Temple’s Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences focuses on the science and practice of health, fitness, and sports performance.

“I decided to study exercise and sports science because of the abundance of background information on the topic provided by my training,” notes Sabapathy. “After sustaining many injuries throughout my career, I have begun to understand the human body in a new way. Throughout my training, I have learned about the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that are important for proper movement. This has persuaded me to pursue a career in exercise and sports science.”

It’s a really sad story. We’ll update with more details when they become available.

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