20 Year-Old Declan Sullivan, Notre Dame Student Dies In Windstorm Related Fall Off Of Tower,While Filming Football Practice…He Sent Tweet’s Predicting His Death!!!

An investigation is under way into the death of student videographer Declan Sullivan,20, who died Wednesday after a scissor lift in which he was filming football practice was knocked down,plummeting student Sullivan 30-40 feet to his death.

Declan Sullivan,20,dies in fall from tower while filming Notre Dame Football practice...

Declan Sullivan, a junior from Long Grove, died at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, where he was rushed to,due to the injuries sustained in the accident.

Memorial Hospital in South Bend

Sullivan’s accident happened at about 3:50 p.m. at the LaBar Practice Complex on the Notre Dame campus. The tower, a hydraulic scissor lift rented by the university, fell toward the north end of the practice facility over a fence, and onto a street that borders the complex. The platform for the tower where Sullivan was taping was approximately 30-40 feet above the ground.

Hydraulic Scissor Lift

South Bend was under a wind advisory until 9 p.m. Wednesday, and gusts at the time of the accident reached 51 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The lift, when fully extended, reaches just a bit higher than a football goalpost…(Source)

Labar Practice complex University of Notre Dame

 

It is being reported by friends of Sullivan, that less than an hour before he died,he jokingly predicted his death, and registered his concern for his safety by posting two messages on Twitter and Facebook from his perch on top of the tower during the windstorm, which stands up to 50 feet above ground.

In one message, posted at 3:22 p.m., Sullivan wrote, “Gust of wind up to 60 mph well today will be fun at work… I guess I’ve lived long enough :-/.”

Later, striking a more serious tone, he tweeted, “This is terrifying.”

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The National Weather Service reported wind speeds of 33 mph with gusts reaching 51 mph at the South Bend Regional Airport at 4:54 p.m., just four minutes after the accident.

Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said there is a lot to learn after the death of Declan Sullivan, and  a thorough investigation is underway.

Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick

The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration were on campus, and the investigation will include a look at the meteorological conditions, the equipment used and athletic department procedures.(Source)

The family of Declan Sullivan are currently in mourning, but have let the authorities know that they have many questions as to why their son died, while working for Notre Dame.

A special mass  for Declan Sullivan will be celebrated at 9 p.m. today, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Notre Dame campus.

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My condolences to the family, and may he rest in peace…

For more on the death of Declan Sullivan…

NBC

Chicago Tribune

ABC7