A Temple University student passed away after falling from a pole in Center City during celebrations for the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory in the NFC Championship on Sunday night. The student, identified as Tyler Sabapathy, was 18 years old and a first-year student at Temple’s College of Public Health.
According to reports, Sabapathy climbed a pole at the corner of 15th and Market streets and fell. The news of his death has deeply saddened the Temple University community. The university released a statement expressing their shock and sorrow, stating, “There are no words that can make sense of it, and the entire Temple community mourns his passing. Our hearts go out to Tyler’s family, friends, classmates, and all who knew and loved him.”
Sabapathy, originally from Toronto, Canada, was majoring in exercise science and sport science at Temple. He was also a member of the university’s club gymnastics team. The university is offering support to its students and staff. Students can seek help from Tuttleman Counseling Services, and faculty and staff can access the employee assistance program at any time.
In addition to this tragic incident, there were several other problems during the celebrations in Philadelphia. According to the police, there were 31 citations issued for disorderly conduct or failure to disperse. In total, four police officers were assaulted, and two people were arrested. There was also a shooting incident where someone fired a gun into the air, and two separate shootings occurred. The front of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office was vandalized during the celebrations as well.
The events on Sunday night have been marred by both the tragedy of Sabapathy’s death and the disturbances that took place in the city. The Temple University community is mourning the loss of a promising young student while police continue to deal with the aftermath of the chaotic celebrations. The university is providing resources to help those affected by this heartbreaking event.
