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Temple student who fell from street pole during NFC championship celebration has died

Tyler Sabapathy, an accomplished gymnast, was critically injured when he fell from a street pole near City Hall.

Eagles fans block North Broad at Wood Street while celebrating after the Eagles won the Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles NFC Championship game in Philadelphia on Sunday, January 26, 2025.
Eagles fans block North Broad at Wood Street while celebrating after the Eagles won the Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles NFC Championship game in Philadelphia on Sunday, January 26, 2025.Read moreElizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

An 18-year-old Temple University student who was critically injured when he fell from a street pole Sunday night near City Hall during the NFC championship celebration has died.

Temple University did not mention the accident as the cause of Tyler Sabapathy’s death in a statement issued Tuesday night mourning the loss of the Toronto native.

“It is with deep sadness that we write to share news of the death of first-year student Tyler Sabapathy. Over the weekend, Tyler sustained critical injuries and ultimately passed away this afternoon,” said the statement, which was signed by John Fry, the university’s president, and Jodi Bailey, vice president of student affairs.

Sabapathy was the person who fell from the street pole at 15th and Market Streets during the massive fan celebration after the Eagles’ victory over the Washington Commanders, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak on the record.

“The loss of a promising 18-year-old man like Tyler is both tragic and traumatic. 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,” the Temple statement said.

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker offered her condolences to his family and the Temple community, and implored Philadelphians to be more careful. “My thoughts and prayers go out to the family who have experienced this tragedy,” she said at a news conference Wednesday. “We want to celebrate the moment, and we want to have a good time celebrating our Eagles in every way imaginable. But we have to do so in a way that does not result in this kind of tragedy.”

Sabapathy — an accomplished gymnast with more than 120 medals in provincial, regional, and international competitions — was studying in Temple University’s College of Public Health, where he was majoring in exercise and sport science, the statement said.

In a video posted on YouTube, Sabapathy said he had been training since he was 2 years old and competing since he was 6.

“Tyler was fascinated with injury prevention, and this ultimately led him to pursue the major that he did. He no doubt had a bright future ahead of him, and it is so tragic that we will not be able to see how he would have made his mark on the world,” the statement said.

Sabapathy was active with Temple men’s gymnastics and “was loved by his teammates, friends and coaches here in Philadelphia,” the statement said.

His family and gymnastics coach declined to speak to The Inquirer.

The university is offering counseling and support services for students and employee assistance for faculty and staff, the statement said.

Parker would not answer whether or not the pole that Sabapathy fell from had been greased, but she asked the public to refrain from climbing poles and other structures. She offered a reminder that the Philadelphia Police Department can use cameras and other tools to “identify individuals who’ve committed dangerous or criminal acts.”

Parker also declined to give details on any possible increased security measures for Super Bowl Sunday but said that the city’s entire team of emergency management personnel would continue to make safety its chief priority as it prepares for the game.

Parker was not concerned only with Sabapathy — she mentioned an Eagles fan who was captured on video firing a gun into the air in the middle of a crowd at Frankford and Cottman Avenues in Northeast Philadelphia, and thanked God that it didn’t result in another tragedy.

“We are the best fan base in sports across the board. They need us to support them and be there to encourage them. But when we do celebrate them, let’s honor them and make sure that we’re doing it decently and in order,” she said.

Staff writer Jesse Bunch contributed to this article.