Declan Sullivan: Notre Dame Student Dies While Filming Practice

by Amy Judd | October 28, 2010 at 07:28 am

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Declan Sullivan, 20, Died When the Tower He Was Filming From Fell Over

The young student from Long Grove Illinois was filming a football practice from a scissor lift in winds that were gusting between 50 and 60 mph.

MSNBC reports that earlier in the day Sullivan had tweeted that the high winds should make his day at work 'fun', and then later he wrote 'this is terrifying.'

After the tower fell he was transported to a South Bend hospital, but his injuries were too severe.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Notre Dame’s president. “Our hearts go out to the student’s family and friends and our prayers and profound sympathies are with them during this incredibly difficult time. The loss of someone so young is a terrible shock and a great sadness. Our entire community shares in the family’s grief.”

USA Today reports that Indiana's workplace safety agency is investigating the incident, but it is not clear at this time who made the lift Sullivan was standing on. However, the newspaper spoke to one manufacturer of scissor lifts who said that they should not be used in winds over 25 mph.

Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokesman Marc Lotter said Thursday the agency had an investigator on the scene in South Bend. He says it's too early to say when the agency, which has the authority to levee fines, might release a report.