Fan Nearly Falls to Death at Baseball Game

Keith Carmickle, Darwin Award nominee?
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 12, 2011 8:03 AM CDT
Keith Carmickle Nearly Falls to His Death at All-Star Home Run Derby
Fans hold the legs of Keith Carmickle from Kingman, Ariz. as he nearly fell over a railing trying to catch a ball during the MLB Home Run Derby Monday, July 11, 2011, in Phoenix.   (AP Photo/Arizona Republic, David Kadlubowski)

So much for learning from the tragedy of others: On Thursday night, Shannon Stone fell to his death while trying to catch a ball at a Texas Rangers game. Last night, Keith Carmickle almost shared the same fate. In an attempt to catch a ball hit by Milwaukee's Prince Fielder at the All-Star Home Run Derby, Carmickle climbed atop an 18-inch wide table and reached out to catch it—except the ball hit the wall below him. As he leaned forward, he tumbled over the railing, and as with Stone, a 20-foot fall awaited him.

But he was saved thanks to his friend and brother, who grabbed his legs and arms and pulled him back to his seat as the crowd gasped. The group let out a few shouts before breaking into high-fives, reports the AP. "I thought: I've lived a good life," Carmickle said. The rub: Carmickle and his group had already nabbed three home-run balls when he made his near-death attempt for a fourth. (More baseball stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X