# An airman dies in rappelling accident at Texas college football game **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 19, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-airman-dies-in-rappelling-accident-at-texas-college-football-game/1033967 "2026-10-19T14:55:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-airman-dies-in-rappelling-accident-at-texas-college-football-game/1033967/21 "2026-10-19T18:49:57Z")
It’s unclear how accurately the article describes what the Sergeant was doing. But whatever it was, it was part of the normal training repertoire for TACP members. My original comment, before it turned into an essay (as so often happens with me 🤦‍♂️) was directed at some folks just upthread from there who expressed confusion that any USAF troop would ever have reason to do rope descents in any form. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-airman-dies-in-rappelling-accident-at-texas-college-football-game/1033967/22 "2026-10-19T18:52:02Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > So “fast rope” wouldn’t be a type of rappelling? No. They are completely different techniques with completely different ropes. You cannot fast-rope with a rappelling rope. Rappelling uses the type of climbing rope you’re used to seeing. Fast Roping uses a much thicker rope. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-airman-dies-in-rappelling-accident-at-texas-college-football-game/1033967/23 "2026-10-19T19:07:28Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The only time I can recall that an on-field medical emergency led to an outright cancellation of a football game was in 2023, when [Damar Hamlin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damar_Hamlin#In-game_collapse)’s heart actually stopped due to a blow to the chest, and he had to be revived on the field. The game was suspended, and as it was late in the season, and the outcome of the game would have had no bearing on the playoffs, it was never resumed. Actually, the outcome of the game would have had a pretty large impact on the playoffs. If the Bills had won, and won the game the following week (which they did), they would have had a 14-3 record, tied with KC, and been the #1 seed due to the tiebreakers with a first week bye. Since they ended with a 13-3 record, KC was the #1 seed and got the bye. Originally, after the ambulance left the field the refs had announced the game would continue after a 10 minute break. Both coaches protested, and after what I’m sure were some heated calls with whichever NFL execs were on duty that night they finally decide to postpone & later cancel the game. ETA: Also, had the Bengals lost to the Bills, then lost to the Ravens the next week (which they didn’t), then the Ravens would have won the division and the Bengals would have been a wildcard. So the game had no impact on who would make the playoffs, but did have a pretty large impact on seeding. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-airman-dies-in-rappelling-accident-at-texas-college-football-game/1033967/24 "2026-10-19T20:08:01Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Thanks for the background information @Chefguy and @LSLGuy Double ditto. 👍🏽 * * * > [@LSLGuy](#): > > …before it turned into an essay (as so often happens with me …🤦‍♂️) You say that like it’s a bad thing. It’s not. What kills me is when someone asks a complicated question and gets a (dismissive) monosyllabic answer. I hate that IRL, too. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-airman-dies-in-rappelling-accident-at-texas-college-football-game/1033967/25 "2026-10-19T20:16:44Z")
He died hours later, or it was officially announced hours later? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-airman-dies-in-rappelling-accident-at-texas-college-football-game/1033967/26 "2026-10-19T22:08:46Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > He died hours later, or it was officially announced hours later? According to the AP story (emphasis mine): > [@](#): > > U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson **died after being taken to a hospital** following Saturday’s fall at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Nellis Air Force Base said in a statement. [https://apnews.com/article/fall-service-member-died-utsa-rappelling-bb717d8d0e03d9ce11d1da5382c2202e](https://apnews.com/article/fall-service-member-died-utsa-rappelling-bb717d8d0e03d9ce11d1da5382c2202e) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-airman-dies-in-rappelling-accident-at-texas-college-football-game/1033967/27 "2026-10-19T22:11:45Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Fast Roping uses a much thicker rope. Thick as a middle-school gym climbing rope? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-airman-dies-in-rappelling-accident-at-texas-college-football-game/1033967/28 "2026-10-19T22:12:37Z")
But “died after being taken to a hospital” often does mean that the person was actually dead on the scene. I don’t know Texas, but in Ohio, EMTs aren’t allowed to declare someone dead except under specific, extraordinary circumstances (such as decapitation, or the body starting to decompose). So they load a corpse into an ambulance, drive it to the hospital, and then a doctor officially declares them dead. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-airman-dies-in-rappelling-accident-at-texas-college-football-game/1033967/29 "2026-10-19T22:23:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But “died after being taken to a hospital” often does mean that the person was actually dead on the scene. Possibly so. The AP article quoted the official statement. It may be that whether he died immediately, or at the hospital, may never be publicly known, and isn’t really relevant, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-airman-dies-in-rappelling-accident-at-texas-college-football-game/1033967/30 "2026-10-19T23:05:47Z")
Like the recent unfortunate priest, dying on the spot includes a necessarily limited time suffering. Dying after first aid, EMTs, transport, etc., usually includes a lot more physical misery & mental contemplation of your plight. If today is my day to die I know which I’d prefer. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2026, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-airman-dies-in-rappelling-accident-at-texas-college-football-game/1033967/31 "2026-10-20T00:00:10Z")
A little thicker, actually. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-airman-dies-in-rappelling-accident-at-texas-college-football-game/1033967.md?page=1)