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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Mets fan dies after falling over railing at Shea

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.

Guapo Posted: April 16, 2008 at 11:27 AM | 48 comment(s)
  Related News: GeneralNY MetsObituaries

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   1. Crashburn Alley Posted: April 16, 2008 at 11:38 AM (#2746212)
I haven't been to Shea Stadium, so I can't picture exactly how this happened. Did he fall off the side of the escalator? How'd that happen?
   2. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: April 16, 2008 at 11:40 AM (#2746219)
Brett Myers probably pushed the guy.

That sounds absolutely horrible though. Ugh, he's got a family too, yikes.
   3. Charles S., enjoys the sparking period Posted: April 16, 2008 at 11:43 AM (#2746229)
His daughters were there and probably saw the whole thing. Unthinkable.
   4. SoSH U at work Posted: April 16, 2008 at 11:44 AM (#2746230)
Though obviously this is different sitaution, I had a very close call on an escalator at Shea as a kid. A friend and I were riding up to our upper deck seats and we were peering over the side of the escalator at the people below. At the last minute, my buddy (who was below me on the escalator) noticed the oncoming floor of the third deck, which runs right alongside the escalator. I don't know what would have happened if it struck my head, but death was certainly a possible outcome.
   5. Lassus Posted: April 16, 2008 at 11:44 AM (#2746231)
A Daily News article this morning says he lost his balance somehow, and simply fell over the side, no horseplay or drinking involved. I mean, that's hard to imagine, but stranger things, I guess... I've been to Shea many many many times, and I know those escalators are high up, but a 4-story fall? That I hadn't noticed.
   6. Harold Reynolds: An Erotic Life (AG#1F) Posted: April 16, 2008 at 11:46 AM (#2746238)
Really awful his family had to see that. I have no idea how this could have happened though. How do you lose your balance on an escalator and fall two stories?
   7. McCoy Posted: April 16, 2008 at 11:47 AM (#2746240)
1 down, 100,000 to go
   8. Crashburn Alley Posted: April 16, 2008 at 11:49 AM (#2746243)
I already have a fear of heights, now this is going to add to my fear of escalators. I always tense up when I'm nearing the top.
   9. HOPE: Madison Obamagarner (Flynn) Posted: April 16, 2008 at 12:02 PM (#2746265)
There are reports he was trying to slide down the handrail. I have to say I believe that way more than "he just fell". How can you trip and fall over the side?
   10. No obvious clever handle (Met Fan Charlie) Posted: April 16, 2008 at 12:22 PM (#2746307)
I think I've ridden on every one of the Shea Stadium escalators, and for some odd reason, they're either turned off or continue to run upwards after a game.

He was probably hoofing it down one, rather than use the ramps -- I did this myself this past Saturday. Or he could have been trying to slide down the railing, but I don't know how he could do that without kicking a couple of hundred people in the kidneys...




Edit: Not funny, McCoy.
   11. depletion Posted: April 16, 2008 at 12:24 PM (#2746311)
Really intelligent, McCoy. You must have dug 9/11.
   12. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: April 16, 2008 at 12:35 PM (#2746332)
Even worse.

His wife, pregnant with their third child, had stayed home while he attended the game.
   13. JPWF13 Posted: April 16, 2008 at 12:55 PM (#2746359)
Really intelligent, McCoy. You must have dug 9/11.


either that or Rob Base has assumed his handle
   14. haplo53 Posted: April 16, 2008 at 01:01 PM (#2746365)
Even worse.

His wife, pregnant with their third child, had stayed home while he attended the game.


Ugh. Simply heartbreaking.
   15. Maury Brown Posted: April 16, 2008 at 01:04 PM (#2746371)
Clearly, McCoy was dropped on his head. If not, someone please kick him there. What an #######.
   16. Bunny Vincennes Posted: April 16, 2008 at 02:14 PM (#2746501)
I was at a game with retro and a group of cowokers at Miller Park and a guy I worked with fell off and died.
   17. PreservedFish Posted: April 16, 2008 at 02:20 PM (#2746511)
I think I've ridden on every one of the Shea Stadium escalators, and for some odd reason, they're either turned off or continue to run upwards after a game.

If the escalators were on and moving down after a game, you would have deaths by trampling every night.
   18. Rich Rifkin I Posted: April 16, 2008 at 02:21 PM (#2746514)
FLYNN: "There are reports he was trying to slide down the handrail."

Where are these reports?

I saw this on NY1: "There are reports he was sliding down the handrail, but his cousin says he was walking down the escalator and lost his footing."

However, that is not referenced at all. NY1 never says where these reports are from.
   19. No obvious clever handle (Met Fan Charlie) Posted: April 16, 2008 at 02:30 PM (#2746531)
If the escalators were on and moving down after a game, you would have deaths by trampling every night.


They run 'em downward at Giants Stadium & that holds 10,000 more people.
   20. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: April 16, 2008 at 02:31 PM (#2746535)
Where are these reports?

I read somewhere on line this morning that Nararainsami was sliding down the rail when he fell, but I can't for the life of me find any such statement on ESPN or CNN, which would have been the likeliest two sites on which I read it. Might have been an early report which has since been scrubbed.
   21. PreservedFish Posted: April 16, 2008 at 02:32 PM (#2746537)
Where are these reports?

At the police station.

"A statement from the New York Police Department Tuesday said witnesses saw 36-year-old Antonio Nararainsami of Brooklyn sitting on the banister of the escalator when he lost his balance and fell."

CNN

The family disputes it.
   22. Tim Lincecum doesn't Wang Chung tonite (GGC) Posted: April 16, 2008 at 02:33 PM (#2746541)
I thought that McCoy was making a Jonestown reference.

Jack Vincennes once saw a guy die at Miller Park, IIRC.
   23. BeanoCook Posted: April 16, 2008 at 02:44 PM (#2746569)
I have no idea how this could have happened though. How do you lose your balance on an escalator and fall two stories?


Being 6'4", the rail of these type of escalators usually comes in at or even below my center of gravity. It is certainly something I can imagine even if you aren't fooling around.
   24. The Clarence Thomas of BTF (scott) Posted: April 16, 2008 at 02:50 PM (#2746578)
Jack's seen everything.
   25. Rich Rifkin I Posted: April 16, 2008 at 02:51 PM (#2746581)
From CNN:
"Nararainsami's daughter, Emily, told CNN affiliate WABC Tuesday that her father was walking down the escalator, not sliding, as fans left the stadium after the New York Mets-Washington Nationals game. She said she and another relative saw what happened.

"He wasn't moving or nothing, he was just walking down. I guess he tried to say something to us or something, and I guess he just lost his balance and flipped over," she said.
This makes no sense to me. I'm 6' 2". I cannot imagine "just flipping over" the railing of an escalator. Assuming he was not fooling around, the only thing I could imagine is that he turned around, looked up to face his family and when he turned back he lost his balance and in trying to regain it, he grabbed the railing and accidentally threw himself over the edge. But no one just standing on an escalator -- not even someone Yao Ming's height -- could just "flip over the edge."

From ABClocal:
Kevin Prashad, a cousin who attended the game, said Narainasami was walking down the escalator, which wasn't moving, and was holding the hand rail when he "lost his footing."
This just makes no sense. The railing, even on an unmoving escalator, is significantly higher than the steps. You don't fall up. Therefore, if you trip on the steps, gravity would not lift you over the railing, unless you grabbed it and threw yourself over.
   26. Dr Love Posted: April 16, 2008 at 02:55 PM (#2746586)
The family disputes it.


Of course they do, if he was screwing then that really weakens their case for a lawsuit.
   27. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: April 16, 2008 at 03:02 PM (#2746593)
Of course they do, if he was screwing then that really weakens their case for a lawsuit.

Although it would have made the divorce a snap.
   28. Shooty Is A One Man Legion Posted: April 16, 2008 at 03:04 PM (#2746601)
Of course they do, if he was screwing then that really weakens their case for a lawsuit.

If that was their first thought, they are a hard, hard group of people. What an awful thing to happen.

I, too, am having trouble imagining the mechanics of falling over the rail. I'm not doubting the veracity of the family's claims--I have trouble believing the man's daughter's would lie so soon after this happen as I'd think they'd be too in shock to be that calculating--but I just can't picture it. I can see falling down the steps, but not over the side. But obviously it happened. Just awful.
   29. Dr Love Posted: April 16, 2008 at 03:09 PM (#2746605)
If that was their first thought, they are a hard, hard group of people. What an awful thing to happen.


As I think about it, it's also possible that they're too embarrassed to say that he was screwing around. Like you, I'm having a hard time seeing how this guy could just fall over.

Is this the type of escalator?
   30. As foretold by the prophesy (JFSE) Posted: April 16, 2008 at 03:15 PM (#2746612)
Maybe Dogbert was at the controls.
   31. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: April 16, 2008 at 04:00 PM (#2746694)
I have trouble believing the man's daughter's would lie so soon after this happen as I'd think they'd be too in shock to be that calculating

Maybe she didn't actually see it. It's an easy step from "he wouldn't do that" to "he didn't do that."

Of course they do, if he was screwing then that really weakens their case for a lawsuit.

You can guarandamntee whoever owns Shea will produce witnesses who'll testify that he was screwing around.

We will never know the truth unless it's on tape.
   32. As foretold by the prophesy (JFSE) Posted: April 16, 2008 at 04:03 PM (#2746703)
If Shea owns the tape, we'll see if it befits them.
   33. Dr Love Posted: April 16, 2008 at 04:09 PM (#2746714)
You can guarandamntee whoever owns Shea will produce witnesses who'll testify that he was screwing around.


Absolutely. But if he was trying to slide down it, and they admit he was, that's not going to help them get the most money they can.

We will never know the truth unless it's on tape.

There very well may be tape of it, but I wouldn't count on it.
   34. snapper Posted: April 16, 2008 at 04:09 PM (#2746717)
Maybe she didn't actually see it. It's an easy step from "he wouldn't do that" to "he didn't do that."

Don't we see this constantly in the news. "My son/daughter/husband would never..." and then they bring out the videotape.
   35. Scott Kazmir's breaking balls Posted: April 16, 2008 at 04:19 PM (#2746736)
It's a tragedy that his family had to witness this horrible event.

However, him being a Mets fan and all, have they ruled out suicide?
   36. McCoy Posted: April 16, 2008 at 04:30 PM (#2746754)
too soon?
   37. Poochie Mahoney Posted: April 16, 2008 at 04:39 PM (#2746776)
I have a terrible fear of escalators too. For me, it's when they go down and I have to make the clean first step on to the steps...I always feel like I'm going to miss and fall to my doom.
   38. BeanoCook Posted: April 16, 2008 at 04:40 PM (#2746779)
I, too, am having trouble imagining the mechanics of falling over the rail. I'm not doubting the veracity of the family's claims--I have trouble believing the man's daughter's would lie so soon after this happen as I'd think they'd be too in shock to be that calculating--but I just can't picture it. I can see falling down the steps, but not over the side. But obviously it happened. Just awful.


Nobody is saying falling over this rail is probable. But it is possible, obviously, even if it is 10,000 to 1 odds that if you were taller, tripped and went over the edge, that is actually not that impossible of a chance.

Keep in mind, when you are traveling down, just 2-4 steps in front of you can amount to about a 1-2 foot drop and the rail 2-4 steps in front of you, when going down, is actually closer to you thigh/knee area. Contrast this with walking up, the rail is above your head 2-4 steps in front of you.
   39. BeanoCook Posted: April 16, 2008 at 04:42 PM (#2746784)
I'm having a hard time seeing how this guy could just fall over.


I'm not having a hard time seeing this as a 10,000:1 scenario after tripping. That being said, I don't think our positions are different at all.
   40. The Bones McCoy of THT Posted: April 16, 2008 at 05:19 PM (#2746830)
Jack's seen everything.


He hasn't seen my kitchen.

Best Regards

John
   41. The Polish Sausage Racer Posted: April 16, 2008 at 05:45 PM (#2746861)
But at Miller Park the phrase "Authorities believe alcohol was involved" is a tautology. Is that the case at Shea?
   42. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: April 16, 2008 at 06:38 PM (#2746914)
I think Beano has it.

ballpark escalators are pretty steep, so if he turned and was speaking to somebody up escalator and then turned back around and missed his step, maybe even two steps, i could see somebody falling forward.

from there it is just a question of which way his momentum was going.
was he top heavy, fat, have a lot of stuff in his hands.

it could happen
   43. phredbird Posted: April 16, 2008 at 06:56 PM (#2746931)
I thought that McCoy was making a Jonestown reference.


explain?
   44. Tim Lincecum doesn't Wang Chung tonite (GGC) Posted: April 16, 2008 at 07:39 PM (#2747005)
Guy was Guyanan. That's why I thought of Jonestown.
   45. phredbird Posted: April 16, 2008 at 07:50 PM (#2747032)
i see that, but still don't get it.
   46. Tim Lincecum doesn't Wang Chung tonite (GGC) Posted: April 16, 2008 at 08:14 PM (#2747082)
My mind works in mysterious ways. I don't get what McCoy was referring to either. I'm sorry that I brought it up.
   47. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: April 16, 2008 at 09:08 PM (#2747271)
But it is possible, obviously, even if it is 10,000 to 1 odds...

That would be a more plausible guesstimate if the Mets had drawn 10,000 fans since installing the escalators. (Let's make it 5,000 to 1, since I know this has happened at least once before.) However, over 50 million tickets have been sold at Shea Stadium since 1986, which doesn't even count postseason games and non-Met events.

The two kids being there is off-the-charts wince material, but if it turns out this guy wasn't handrail-sliding/looking down below/etc., it'll be a stunner.
   48. Maury Brown Posted: April 16, 2008 at 09:44 PM (#2747432)
Best Regards, John wins for best new handle. No, I'm not Jewish. So much for ever eating calamari again.
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