Mets Fan Falls To Death At Shea Stadium

Brooklyn Man, 36, Loses Balance On Escalator And Falls 2 Stories As His Family Watches

(CBS/AP)  A man attending a New York Mets game with his family lost his balance on an escalator and fell two stories to his death, police said.

Antonio Nararainsami, 36, and several relatives, including his two young daughters, were leaving the stadium at the end of Tuesday night's game against the Washington Nationals when he fell in a section below the left field stands and landed on a concrete floor.

Nararainsami, a Guyanese native who lived in Brooklyn, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead half an hour later.

Kevin Prashad, a cousin who attended the game, said Nararainsami was walking down the escalator, which wasn't moving, and was holding the hand rail when he "lost his footing."

But a police source told Newsday that there were some reports that the victim was "surfing down the railing ... Witnesses said he had jumped on the rubber railing ... and he was sliding down when he lost his balance."

The Mets said in a statement that they had been "advised of a tragic accident that resulted in the death of a fan." They said team officials and police were investigating.

"Our deepest and heartfelt condolences go out to the fan's family," the team's statement said.

The death of Nararainsami, who was wearing a Mets cap when he fell, appeared to be an accident, and no charges had been filed, police said.

Nararainsami installed heating and air conditioning systems for a living, loved sports and was the captain of a local cricket club, his relatives said. His wife, pregnant with their third child, had stayed home while he attended the game.

Nararainsami's death wasn't the first at Shea. In 1985, a 21-year-old Yonkers man fell 100 feet from an escalator and was killed.

This is the Mets' last season at Shea Stadium. A new stadium, Citi Field, is scheduled to open next year.

Tuesday's game, which the Mets won 6-0, had celebrated Jackie Robinson Day, the 61st anniversary of when the Brooklyn Dodgers legend broke major league baseball's color barrier.

[fibonacci_]

Ouch.

[griking]

"But a police source told Newsday that there were some reports that the victim was "surfing down the railing ... Witnesses said he had jumped on the rubber railing ... and he was sliding down when he lost his balance."

It''s called Natural Selection. Unfortunately though I''ll bet that his family tries to sue Shea and the Mets because this guy felt the need to surf down the railing of an escalator.

[sandysguy]

This is a great Tragedy
However if and only if he eas surfing as reported
Each of us must be responsible for our own actions

[sassalin]

Griking,

You are so right. His cousin was setting that up with his statemet.

And our court system is so flawed that they will win or the ball park will settle out of court.

[jetlizhan]

how can one ''surf'' down those rubber rails? the surface isn''t slick, it sticks to you - i don''t get it.

[whatithink-2009]

sblake63,

The only person looking bad as a result of your comment is you.

[alilperturbe]

sblake63,

Wow...way to take a family''s tragedy and turn it into your own pathetic attempt to get attention. If the man was horsing around and caused his own death...then it''s sad...but how does that give anyone the right to bash him and his name....tell me sblake63, what''s your last name? I can almost guarantee you that it is an immigrant name as well since the only people who are actually native to this country are Indian...are you full blooded Indian? Perhaps before you ridicule someone for his or her ethnic background, you should do a little research on your own so that in the future, you look less like an ignorant fool.

[richnj1]

The attack on his immigrant status is subhuman. As a factual matter, there is no way to fall out of an escalator unless you deliberately are trying to "surf" the rail. If he did that, it was stupid ... and I still feel sorry for him, because we all do stupid things at times in our lives. Do I think there will be or should be a lawsuit against the Mets? I hope not. But I still sympathize with his family. Sad story.

[megamanx1-2009]

YOU CAN''T LOSE YOUR FOOTING AND FALL OVER THE SIDE OF AN ESCALATOR IF YOU ARE JUST WALKING DOWN IT THE NORMAL WAY. THIS GUY WAS DOING SOMETHING DUMB.

[seaslew]

Im sure if he was fooling around he was not ever the first to do it, but then to fall and die was not in his plans im sure,, It sad his daughters had to witness this.

[cmp271]

The mets should sue his family for ruining their end of season game.

He was doing something stupid, no one falls from an escalator! I have been on some serious escalators in the underground in London, no way is it the stadiums fault.

[ringading3]

I wonder if alcohol played any part in this death?

[kennergirl]

"This is the Mets'' last season at Shea Stadium. A new stadium, Citi Field, is scheduled to open next year. "

And hopefully escalators won''t be installed in the new stadium since some people don''t know how to "walk" down them.

[konabike]

I wonder if there is a camera showing how he fell? I''ve seen videos every where at baseball staduim.

[killtheliars]

if he was goofing off his family should not get one cent in compensation, because you know a lawsuite is coming

[bestillandno]

Everyone should calm down with the "he deserved it because he was fooling around" thing. It sounds as if no one on these boards has ever engaged in "horse-play" of any kind. Surely that can''t be true. Have we not all engaged in playful antics that potentially could have caused us injury or worse? Granted, some people are worse than others, but to be this judgemental sounds rediculous to me, especially without knowing the setting, context, etc...of the situation. I guess one reason I am a bit surprised is that some of the same people that feel like he deserves no sympathy would be completely tolerant of other things that are much worse.

[lucci8]

whats wrong with you people

a guy died in front of his children

even if he was "fooling around", he didn''t deserve to die, that is way over the top

hopefully none of you will ever witness a high impact death like that

falling like that is called an "accident" and it is tragic

you people make me sick

[excoachken]

When you have children, your life must change due to the responsibility as the breadwinner. This is unfortunate, preventable, careless and stupid. Any father reading this story should consider the consequences of their actions when they decide to "fool around."

[renae2626]

Even if he was fooling around....this is a horrible time that his family is going through. I wish people would stop degrading him and show some respect. My prayers go to his family.

[berniepeders]

f you keep your feet on the escalator you cannot fall two stories case closed next case.

Posted by rharrin1 at 10:01 AM : Apr 16, 2008

Well said, I couldn''t agree more.

[thgdriver]

Life is full of bad decisions, How long have the escalators been there? How many millions of fans went to the games over the years? How many millions used the escalators but did not slide down the railing and fall? How many others have been killed this way at that stadium?

Bottom line? He was the only fool to have this stupid accident and get killed because of his own bad decision.

By the way, this is a comments forum. I don''t know where the condolence forum is. You folks that have a problem with the truth must go there if you don''t like truthful comments here.

[blackbug99]

They''re called gravity and potential energy. If he had lowered his potential energy by walking down the escalator, like a normal person, then gravity wouldn''t have had to teach him a lesson.

[thgdriver]

hopefully escalators won''''t be installed in the new stadium since some people don''''t know how to "walk" down them.

Posted by kennergirl

I could not disagree more, Why should all be inconvenienced, especially the older folks and younger children who have trouble with stares. There will always be folks who like to horse around and have to learn the hard way not to. This fool found out the hard way but now his family suffers because of his foolishness.

[thgdriver]

I am sure the Mets may through the family a bone. Other then that it looks like he got what he asked for.

If they sue and I am on the jury they get what he got. Nothing!

[gmond]

poor guy

[hypnotoad72]

In Kindergarten, on a field trip to an airport (circa 1978, long before terrorists got creative), I fell down an escalator. Only a cut in the arm.

My condolences to his surviving family.

And to those who are belittling him or, worse, his family; go away. Wasn''t much different back in 1978, but that''s understandable -- society''s problems, hate to say it but it''s ironic, began with the 1960s and tolerating misbehavior, the spike in teen pregnancies, making light of death (this one being far worse in the mid-1980s), and so on. It''s a good reminder, people telling others how their crass attempts at jokes make them sick. We all need it every once in a while... and it is sick.

[bestillandno]

By the way, this is a comments forum. I don''''t know where the condolence forum is. You folks that have a problem with the truth must go there if you don''''t like truthful comments here.

Posted by thgdriver at 01:21 PM : Apr 16, 2008



I thought "condolences" were comments too.

[djtempted]

thats...my friend''s cousin that fell down

[newsnut123]

djtempted, you''re point would be......??

[cfj003]

You''d swear you morons had a vested financial interest in the lawsuits(the Mets are going to raise prices all they want lawsuit or no--and you''ll take it). I think its because you guys would just hate to see another little guy''s family get rich(er) than
you(rs), gasp, undeservedly. It really comes off that way.

How about some plain ole sympathy and sorrow JUST BECAUSE someone died. In front of his two young daughters. Regardless or whether he was "acting a little foolish" or not, someone died. Surely ye have no souls.....

[swwils]

That is all it takes is one second of loosing touch with reality,and your gone.I have sympathy for his family,and friends.A little fun can turn deadly in a blink of an eye.It doesn''t take much as we get older to forget we are not that young anymore and we can loose our balance more easily.

[linfinster]

Very tragic! I can''t imagine what would make him think he could toy with such danger, and in front of his two daughters?! I feel very sorry for this family! What a loss.

[glock4me]

I''m surprised that nobody has blamed Bush for gravity.

[cfin5]

Smooth move. a) Bet he was either half juiced. b) or dumb enough to surf the rail in the first place. c) all of the above,.......take your pick, but I say "c".

[haoli25]

In true New York style, I''m sure they will arrest ''Gravity'' and charge it with murder. Yet another village is deprived of it''s idiot.

[veteran72]

Tragically, neither Shrub or Darth were injured or killed.

[newsterl]

Idiot surfs the rail and this is what happens...

"By the way, this is a comments forum. I don''''''''t know where the condolence forum is. You folks that have a problem with the truth must go there if you dont like truthful comments here.

Posted by thgdriver


I thought "condolences" were comments too.
Posted by BeStillandno

Who reads condolences? you actually think the guy''s wife reads THIS or something? you wanna send condolences look her up in the phone book and send flowers, this is a news comments section not a memorial- you take what you get in here- including the truth, and the truth is the guy was a fool for playing games on an escalator- this is child play, that 10 year old KIDS are taught not to do.

[keithle1]

Glock4me:

"I''''m surprised that nobody has blamed Bush for gravity."

Tee hee. You''re funny. Don''t let me stop you kissing the Prez''s butt. You missed a cheek. Don''t forget Cheney.

Bush is your hero? You''re glad we invaded Iraq? One of the greatest Presidents ever? You''re going to be crying hysterically when Dubya leaves office in Jan 2009?

Please give me a list of The Great One''s achievements. Take your time. You know, the good things he has done. The things that make you proud to be an American.

[blackyowe]

My guess is there was drink involved.

[ioweign]

I''m surprised that nobody has blamed Bush for gravity.

Posted by Glock4me at 07:37 PM : Apr 16, 2008


I knew Isaac Newton, George Bush is no Isaac Newton.

When Bush was younger, he tried to defy gravity quite a bit by upchucking a lot...

[rhs648]

It is interesting how so many posters seem to know what happened before the police have done an investigation. A cousin said he was walking down the escalator while some witnesses say he was sliding down the rail. Why not wait for the investigation to be completed before declaring that this fellow was a fool, an idiot, intoxicated, careless, etc?