Texas Rangers fan dies trying to catch ball
By Lateef Mungin, CNN
July 8, 2011 -- Updated 1038 GMT (1838 HKT)
(CNN) -- Almost a year after a similar incident, tragedy struck again at a Texas Rangers game Thursday night when a fan fell over a railing while trying to catch a ball.
The fan, who was not identified, flipped over the railing of the outfield seats. He fell about 20 feet -- crashing head-first into an area near a scoreboard as his horrified son watched.
The man was rushed to a hospital where he died, the Arlington Fire Department said.
Major League Baseball officials said the incident occurred in the second inning of the game at Rangers Ballpark after star outfielder Josh Hamilton threw a ball in the stands for fans.
Another fan who was sitting near the victim saw him leaning over the rail. The second man tried to grab on to victim's shirt, but could not hold on.
The fall, captured on video footage, shows the victim's son -- decked in a Rangers hat and t-shirt -- reaching towards his father as the man tumbled over the railing.
"We are deeply saddened to learn that the man who fell has passed away as a result of this tragic accident," said legendary former pitcher and Texas Rangers President Nolan Ryan. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
One fan who saw the fall described the incident to CNN affiliate WFAA.
"Just as the ball hit his hands, it kind of threw him off balance and he went head-first," he said. "It looked awful because you knew there was no way he was going to land on his feet "
The incident occurred almost a year after another fall at a Texas Rangers game.
On July 9, 2010, a fan fell from the second deck of the ballpark while trying to catch a foul ball.
The man, Tyler Morris, survived the 30-foot fall but fractured his skull and injured his foot and ankle.
"Somebody had to have been watching over me from above," Morris later told reporters.
CNN's John Branch and Dave Alsup contributed to this report.
Credit: CNN (www.cnn.com)
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