Declan Sullivan: Final tweet of student who died falling from camera tower
'I guess I've lived long enough': Final Tweet of student filming university football practice before camera tower collapsed
19
View
comments
Terrified: Declan Sullivan, 20, was killed after the camera tower he was filming from collapsed in high winds at Notre Dame University, Indiana
A university student sent messages to Twitter from the top of a camera tower where he was recording American football practice less than an hour before he fell to his death.
Declan Sullivan, 20, a junior at Notre Dame, wrote his first message at 3.22pm saying: 'Gust of wind up to 60mph well today will be fun at work... I guess I've lived long enough.'
The second message, sent at 4.06pm, read: 'Holy f*** holy f*** this is terrifying.'
The student, from Long Grove, Illinois, suffered fatal injuries after the tower fell over at around 4.50pm.
He was rushed from the training complex at LaBar to a South Bend hospital, but doctors were unable to save him.
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said: 'Our thoughts and prayers go out to Declan's family and friends.
'Declan was a diligent student worker in our video department and had a tremendous personality and great sense of humour.
'He brightened the days for all that had the privilege to work with him and the Notre Dame football family will dearly miss him.'
Students and faculty members have expressed their disbelief that anyone would have been allowed in a camera tower under such strong winds.
Andrew Seroff, 21, a senior at the university in Indiana, told the Huffington Post: 'It almost certainly could have been avoided.'
Accident: Notre Dame emergency personnel examine the collapsed tower, which fellow over in winds of more than 50mph
Tributes: Mr Sullivan was rushed to hospital in South Bend, but doctors were unable to save him
On Tuesday, Mr Kelly held an indoor practice after a tornado warning from the Great Lakes Cyclone, but despite similarly windy conditions yesterday the team resumed outdoor practice.
Winds in the area were gusting up to 51mph at the time of the accident, according to the National Weather Service.
The university has made counsellors available to students and a special Mass will be held in Mr Sullivan's memory later today.
Senior linebacker Brian Smith posted on his Twitter page: 'In the midst of a season where you are disappointed with the outcomes... you can lose sight of what's most important.
'Sad day at practice. I will never forget today.'
The university, known as The Fighting Irish, will play Tulsa on Saturday. Post-practice interviews were cancelled after Mr Sullivan's death.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWJ%2BdH6TbmhxZ3SasK2tzWaKrqScnsOiuox%2FoKeZnGLBuLHErWSsrKWZsq%2FAjJ2gnpxdm66tuMinnmabkaKys62MraawnaJjtbW5yw%3D%3D