Northern Ireland fan dies after fall from seafront walkway in Nice
Monday 13 June 2016 22:55, UK
A Northern Ireland football fan who died in the French city of Nice after falling from a seafront promenade has been named as Darren Rodgers, from Ballymena.
The 25-year-old was walking along a sea wall when he fell eight metres (26ft) onto a rocky beach.
He was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
The Northern Ireland FA are going to ask UEFA if they can wear black armbands and hold a minute's silence before the game against Ukraine on Thursday as a tribute.
A French National Police spokesman said: "It seems it was drink. He was walking and went over the barrier, because he was drinking he crossed the barrier and fell eight metres."
The spokesman said the accident happened at around 2am on Monday, after Northern Ireland's match against Poland, which they lost by 1-0.
A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman said: "We are aware that a man from Northern Ireland aged in his 20s has died in Nice this morning. As this occurred in France, this is a matter for the French authorities."
Nice's Promenade des Anglais is famed as a landmark of the city and runs for some four miles. Below it lies a rocky pebble beach.
Thousands of the fans had congregated around the area of the Place Massena in the old part of the city.
Patrick Nelson, chief executive of the Irish FA, said: "On behalf of the board, management, players and staff of the Irish Football Association, I would like to express my deep sadness at the tragic death of a Northern Ireland supporter."
Mr Rodgers was a former striker with Wakehurst Football Club in Ballymena. They said: "It is with great sadness that today we learned of the untimely passing of a former player. Darren Rodgers played for the Strollers until 2012.
"We would like to pass on our most sincere condolences to his family and friends at this tragic time."
