Notre Dame Student Falls to Death From Roof One Day Before Graduation
A student due to graduate from the University of Notre Dame on Sunday died early this morning after falling off the roof of a sports arena, NBC News reports.
Officials say 21-year-old William Meckling was among “a small group” of students who gained access to the top of the school’s Joyce Athletic and Convocation Center on Saturday. Meckling then fell from the roof, which police noted was wet with rain. From the Chicago Tribune:
A Notre Dame Security Police lieutenant, on patrol near the center at 3:45 a.m., was approached by two students who said they needed his assistance. The officer found the victim unresponsive on the ground near Gate 7 of the center, on its east side. Emergency medical personnel also responded. CPR and other efforts to resuscitate the student were unsuccessful.
According to a statement by the university, the Centennial, Colorado native was a member of the school’s fencing team who studied mechanical engineering.
Notre Dame senior who died falling off Joyce Center was fencer William Meckling. So tragic: http://t.co/82kLg0Fe1j pic.twitter.com/RwD0gKBRwZ
May 16, 2015
“Billy was a talented fencer and a determined worker on a very competitive sabre squad,” said coach Gia Kvaratskhelia. “More importantly, he was a great friend to all members of our program. A true Notre Dame man, his kindness and warmth impacted each and every one of us — and makes his loss all the more difficult.”
Authorities say no one else was injured in the accident.
[Image via WNDU]