Eagles fan, 18, ᴅᴇᴀᴅ after fall from light pole in NFC Championship celebration

Eagles fan, 18, ᴅᴇᴀᴅ after fall from light pole in NFC Championship celebration

An Eagles fan who climbed and then fell from a light pole in Philadelphia after the team’s NFC Championship game win died on Tuesday.

The 18-year-old, identified as Temple University student Tyler Sabapathy, suffered brain trauma after a fall on 15th and Market streets on Sunday night and was then placed on life support before dying at Jefferson Hospital, ABC 6 in Philly reported Tuesday.

An 18-year-old man died after falling from a light pole as Eagles
fans celebrated their NFC Championship win on Jan. 26, 2025. Instagram / @itsmedreko

In a statement from Temple President John Fry and Vice President for Student Affairs Jodi Bailey, the school mourned his loss.

“It is with deep sadness that we write to share news of the death of first-year student Tyler Sabapathy,” the statement read. “Over the weekend, Tyler sustained critical injuries and ultimately pᴀssed away this afternoon. 

The 18-year-old was a student at Temple University. Instagram / @itsmedreko
The 18-year-old fell from a pole at 15th and Market Streets. Instagram / @itsmedreko

“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 pᴀssing. Our hearts go out to Tyler’s family, friends, classmates and all who knew and loved him.”

Sabapathy, a native of Toronto, Canada, was a member of the school’s gymnastics team and was majoring in exercise and sport science.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker warned fans before the celebrations not to climb poles or shoot guns in the streets.

“You don’t want to be in a celebratory moment, you know, have a tragedy occur,” Parker said. “Please don’t climb the poles.”

Multiple people, including Sabapathy, climbed poles in the city. ABC 6 also reported at least two people were sH๏τ during the celebrations in the streets.

Tyler Sabapathy was on the gymnastics team at Temple. Instagram /tylersabagym
Tyler Sabapathy hailed from Canada. Instagram /tylersabagym

One fan also fired gunsH๏τs into the air at Cottman and Frankford Avenues.

Nick Alessandro of Blackwood, N.J., told CBS News this week he saw the fall that led to the Temple undergraduate’s death.

“He was trying to take down the Eagles flag from the pole, and I guess he lost his balance and then fell,” Alessandro said. “And then everyone swarmed toward him, but other people went away. It was a mess.”

Eagles fans celebrate in Philadelphia after their team beat the Commanders in the NFC Championship on Jan 26, 2025. AP

Temple encouraged students affected by the loss to seek counseling through the university.

“He no doubt had a bright future ahead of him, and it is so tragic that we will not be able to see how he would have made his mark on the world,” Temple added in the statement.

Related Posts

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce spark Swiftie fury after posing with ‘MAGA’ stars: ‘Where is her self respect?’

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce spark Swiftie fury after posing with ‘MAGA’ stars: ‘Where is her self respect?’

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift have sparked a meltdown among her fanbase after they were seeing hanging out with the ‘MAGA’ co-hosts of ‘Bussin’ With The Boys’. The popular…

Travis Kelce and George Kittle belt out ‘Love Story’ with Taylor Swift in fresh clip that sends fans into meltdown

Travis Kelce and George Kittle belt out ‘Love Story’ with Taylor Swift in fresh clip that sends fans into meltdown

Taylor Swift stole the headlines from her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s ‘тιԍнт End University’ event in Nashville this week, but the singer also shared a cool moment with…

Ravens star Kyle Hamilton announces engagement to high school sweetheart Reese Damm

Ravens star Kyle Hamilton announces engagement to high school sweetheart Reese Damm

Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton is engaged to his high school sweetheart, Reese Damm. The defensive back shared an image of him getting down on one knee…

Ex-NFL quarterback’s shock Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes comparison divides opinion

Ex-NFL quarterback’s shock Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes comparison divides opinion

Legendary NFL quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has split fan opinion after claiming that Aaron Rodgers was ‘better’ in his prime than Patrick Mahomes.  Debates over where Rodgers stands within…

Pablo Torre says the NFL is monitoring his media appearances after collusion leak

Pablo Torre says the NFL is monitoring his media appearances after collusion leak

Journalist Pablo Torre said the NFL is monitoring his media appearances after he reported on his podcast on Tuesday that the league allegedly colluded with its 32 franchises to…

49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir arrested for parking incident with cops

49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir arrested for parking incident with cops

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was arrested Thursday evening in Los Angeles and charged with resisting a peace officer, according to TMZ. Law enforcement sources told…