Baseball horror as man falls to his death in front of young son as he tried to catch ball

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

The victim's young son (centre) looks down after his father toppled over the railing and fell 20ft while trying to catch a baseball


A man fell to his death in front of his young son when he toppled over a railing at a baseball game and plunged 20 feet to the ground after trying to catch the ball.

The 27-year-old man, who has not been named, was at the Texas Rangers Ballpark when he shouted out for Rangers' outfielder Josh Hamilton to throw him the ball.

The player duly tossed it up to the stands but as he leaned out to catch it the man lost his balance and fell over the railings landing on the concrete below.


Fans watch on as the man leans out to catch the ball as it is thrown up by a player


A spokesman for Arlington Fire Department said the man was conscious after the fall but 'went into full arrest' while being taken to the hospital by ambulance.

He was pronounced dead at a Fort Worth hospital less than an hour after he fell.

Fellow fan Ronnie Hargis said he had been chatting to the victim as they had been sitting together in the first row of seats in the left field.

He said he had tried to try to grab the man, who fell headfirst through a gap of several feet that is between the seats and the 14-foot-high outfield wall.

He said: He went straight down. I tried to grab him, but I couldn't. I tried to slow him down a little bit.'


He leans out to catch the ball while his son, wearing a baseball glove, stands behind


Having lost his balance he topples over the railings


Fellow fan Ronnie Hargis, who had been chatting to the victim moments before the tragedy, leans out to try and grab him but it is too late


The accident happened in the second inning after Oakland's Conor Jackson hit a foul ball that ricocheted into left field. Hamilton retrieved the ball and tossed it into the stands as players routinely do.

Rangers team president Nolan Ryan said: 'We had a very tragic accident tonight and one of our fans lost their life reaching over the rail trying to get a ball.

'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.'
The victim has not been named.


Accident: The man fell after trying to catch a ball thrown up by Texas Rangers' player Josh Hamilton


Former president George W. Bush, who used to be the team's managing general partner and often attends games, was sitting in the front row with Ryan near the Texas dugout when the accident happened.

Ryan left moments later while Bush remained in the seats.

Ryan said Mr Bush was aware of what was happening.

It is the second fatal fall at a major league stadium this season. In May, a 27-year-old man died after he fell about 20 feet and struck his head on concrete during a Colorado Rockies game.


George W. Bush and his wife Laura stand for the National Anthem. The former president was sitting in the front row when the tragedy happened

source :dailymail