Man dies at ball game trying to catch the ball

[AdMan]

It's not speculation. Of course he died from the fall. It wasn't from his forty Marlboro and twenty Twinkie a day habit which coincidentally made itself known on the same day as he fell 15-20 feet head-first from a baseball stand.

The speculation was whether he wouldn't have died if he'd somehow managed to grab the railing as he fell and thus landed on his legs instead of on his arms and head.

 

[BobTheCoward]

Could it be an efficient accident? Efforts that may have prevented his death may damage the experience for millions of fans.

 

[TheNooch]

To be fair, people go to baseball and sports events to unwind, and stop thinking for a few hours, like moviegoing.

Well then, this guy got more than his money's worth, I'd say.

 

[bookitty]

Watching the replay, if he had let go of the ball, he could have grabbed on to the railing.

Yeah and he had that whole .5 seconds to figure that out, too.

I box for fun. While sparring, I know that at some point a fist will be headed for my face. I am prepared for it, I have trained to block it, the person I'm sparring with is holding back a lot so the punch will be much, much slower than a real boxing blow. I still get hit in the face sometimes. Our reflexes are a lot slower then our thoughts.

 

[NoahFence]

A few people have mentioned him, I don't understand. Why? He doesn't have anything to do with it.

Eh?

 

[shadron]

I'm truly sorry for the kid, and for the guy's family.

But I'm getting the "we need more protection" vibe here from everyone. Perhaps we need to pack everyone at the game in bubblewrap, or not allow anyone to get out of their seats during the game through some mechanical contrivance (the afore-mentioned roller coaster restraints). Maybe everyone should just stand beyond the outfield.

Look. Basic safety needs to be considered in the construction of any public structure, but isn't it just a bit much to try to eliminate all possibility of injury? We've taken away most of the neat things in kids playgrounds (I used to like the jungle jim, and it was the first to go, then long high slides, and then anything to climb on that is over a foot high. In Denver we had what was called the "airplane" park for years, because it had a steel jet fighter shape that all the kids could climb on. Now it's on poles 10 feet in the air to keep kids off of it, so we can still call it the airplane park without the occasional scrapes and bruises, nor the fun. Now you want to put, what, 60", 72" railings with wire to keep everyone in the box? You'd think we were raising eggs, not people.

And don't get me started on airport security theater.

Accidents happen, sometimes tragic ones. Reasonable precautions against normal hazards, sure. This shouldn't be a crusade to eliminate the freak, one-off accidents from life. From them we all learn as well. My opinion.

 

[CptColumbo]

I imagine that MLB will ban throwing the ball into the crowd, to avoid any future liability.

I know that at the Metrodome, and possibly at Target Field, employees (not members of the team) were not allowed to throw balls into the stands. That was probably a move to prevent a "live ball" being taken out of play.

Next thing you know the T-shirt cannon wil be retired and you might have to actually watch the game.

 

[Distracted1]

Of course. There must be somebody other than the victim at fault (otherwise he wouldn't be a victim)
The rails were to code (remember, Arlington, Texas is the city that wouldn't let the NFL get away with sub-standard seating at the Roman Numeral game)
The problem was that he landed on concrete behind the scoreboard.

Actually, there seem to be just as many-if not more-posters blaming the "victim" than are blaming the ballpark.Many claiming he was drunk, or he was stupid, or he didn't keep himself healthy.

Maybe he is not to blame either. Perhaps there is no "blame" at all here. I can certainly remember a time or two when I have misjudged timing, or distance, or my own body's ability to react as intended; I don't believe that qualifies me for a "Darwin".

And who knows for certain how healthy their own heart is at any particular point in time. I have read of cases where perfectly healthy people (seemingly) have had their heart stop for no apparent reason.

 

[NotJesus]

She's obviously on top of the dugout.

Yeah. Thanks.

 

[Pardalis]

Eh?

I just don't see why he should feel guilty, how many foul balls are struck in a game?

 

[TheNooch]

Could it be an efficient accident? Efforts that may have prevented his death may damage the experience for millions of fans.

That's why I propose showing this video, perhaps only a 10 second clip at the beginning of every ball game. Just to remind folks how dangerous catching a baseball can be. Leave it to the professionals people, that's why you paid $50 to watch some strangers throw, hit, and CATCH a ball. Ever notice any professional ball players dying from falling over a railing while catching a ball? No? I didn't think so, that's why they get paid the big money, they're professionals.

Every time we get on a plane they remind us that the plane just might crash, and maybe even into some water. (even when flying from Denver to Sioux Falls) It's not like people on the plane aren't aware of the odds, but they remind us anyway, for our safety. The airlines should get a video of that plane landing in the Hudson and show that at the beginning of every flight. That's a text book example of what you should do 'in the unlikely event of a water landing'.

 

[CptColumbo]

I just don't see why he should feel guilty, how many foul balls are struck in a game?

If it was me, I would probably feel guilty.

If I knew him I would certainly tell him that it wasn't his fault, but you can't prevent those stray doubts from lingering in.

 

[TheNooch]

I can certainly remember a time or two when I have misjudged timing, or distance, or my own body's ability to react as intended; I don't believe that qualifies me for a "Darwin".

I'm not sure you understand the meaning of a "Darwin Award". In other words, close only counts in hand grenades and nuclear explosions.

I'm pretty sure this guy will be up for a Darwin, even though he's already left behind some crotch fruit.

 

[Ron_Tomkins]

That's why I propose showing this video, perhaps only a 10 second clip at the beginning of every ball game. Just to remind folks how dangerous catching a baseball can be. Leave it to the professionals people, that's why you paid $50 to watch some strangers throw, hit, and CATCH a ball. Ever notice any professional ball players dying from falling over a railing while catching a ball? No? I didn't think so, that's why they get paid the big money, they're professionals.

Every time we get on a plane they remind us that the plane just might crash, and maybe even into some water. (even when flying from Denver to Sioux Falls) It's not like people on the plane aren't aware of the odds, but they remind us anyway, for our safety. The airlines should get a video of that plane landing in the Hudson and show that at the beginning of every flight. That's a text book example of what you should do 'in the unlikely event of a water landing'.

^ This.

 

[Pardalis]

Yeah and he had that whole .5 seconds to figure that out, too.

Good point. Watching the replay in slow motion makes one forget that.

 

[fuelair]

There will always be people who either don't listen or don't pay attention or are too drunk to care. But a warning always helps at least diminishing the possibility of future accidents.



What?? I did not know that! Now that's weird!

I have the same source (copied maybe, but) with the part you quote and it definitely said he was a fireman two (IIRC) paras after the intro you quoted.

 

[ponderingturtle]

That he went into cardiac arrest in the ambulance does not mean it was not entirely the result of the trauma of the fall. Internal bleeding can explain that trivially. Everyone who dies goes into cardiac arrest, and there are plenty of reasons for example blood loss can trigger cardiac arrest because you don't have enough blood in your body to pump.

 

[Camillus]

ETA: he didn't die from the fall, it was a heart attack in the ambulance

He had a cardiac arrest in the ambulance. At the moment we don't know if a heart attack caused that cardiac arrest or whether it was a consequence of the fall.

Personally, based on my experience, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a result of the head injury. It is quite common to have a lucid period after a serious head injury, this often fools people into thinking it's less serious than it really is. Shortly after that the casualty loses consciousness again as the brain injury kicks in. If there is an acute intra-cerebral bleed the skull begins to fill with blood, but, as the skull is already full of brain something has to give. The skull is too rigid to crack so the brain is pushed through the opening of the skull at the top of the spinal cord, crushing the brain stem in the process and triggering cardiac arrest. The process is known as coning and the outcome is not usually a good one.

 

[Corsair 115]

How high would you suggest? 6ft? 8ft? Should they add razor wire on the top to keep fans from climbing over? I was more concerned with the distance between the existing rails that an un-attended toddler/small kid could climb through.

Get real. Life has hazards, and some folk gotta show the rest of us what NOT to do once in a while.

On the other hand, some years back arenas put up netting at the ends of NHL hockey rinks to prevent pucks from going into the stands and striking patrons. After a couple of incidents of fans being injured, it was decided that the taller glass on the end boards wasn't sufficient and in the interest of protecting the attendees the netting was put up.

 

[TheNooch]

On the other hand, some years back arenas put up netting at the ends of NHL hockey rinks to prevent pucks from going into the stands and striking patrons. After a couple of incidents of fans being injured, it was decided that the taller glass on the end boards wasn't sufficient and in the interest of protecting the attendees the netting was put up.

Now that makes sense. Hockey pucks are black, and travel at speeds approaching that of light. Any person in the audience could take one in the face at any moment, you don't even have to lean over a rail., and you will never know what hit ya. BAM!

Baseballs on the other hand are white, and you never really lose sight of it unless the sun gets in your eyes (that's why the pro's wear baseball hats). They have a net that protects the most dangerous seats behind home plate, like hockey.

Now, let's talk about golf. A tiny little white ball that goes so fast there is NO WAY POSSIBLE to keep your eye on it as it leaves the club head. And yet they allow people to drink beer, and stand right along the side of the fairway, without helmets.

In this video you will see, and probably laugh out loud, a lady get hit in the face with a driven golf ball. I wonder if the ball doesn't have a tracking device in it for the camera man. I mean, off the tee, the camera never loses sight of the ball, and after it hits the lady in the face, the camera still follows the ball. I've never been to a professional golf game, but why don't the other watchers say something like, "heads up".



This is why God invented the wide screen plasma HDTV, to keep the masses safe while watching other people exercise.

Here's another golf video. I find it interesting that the announcer (this one is in australian for extra laughs) is shocked that a man gets knocked out. I'm surprised it doesn't happen more.