Witness to woman’s fall at OSU graduation shares experience: ‘definitely shocking’

Update: The Franklin County Coroner’s Office has revealed the identity of the person who died Sunday afternoon after falling from the Ohio Stadium stands during spring commencement.

DAYTON, Ohio ( WDTN ) — One person died after falling at the Ohio State University graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 5 .

Over 30,000 people were estimated to have been at the commencement, and some graduates and families in attendance witnessed the woman fall.

2 NEWS spoke with an OSU alum who watched the incident happen.

“I think a student fainted and like people were screaming and it was just like it was just a panic. Like everybody was surprised what they saw,” said Suhaib Abudulwahed, an OSU graduate.

Abudulwahed was at OSU Sunday afternoon for his younger sister’s graduation. But before he could even make it to his seat, he and dozens of other witnesses saw the unthinkable.

“I didn’t process what it was at first.. then I was like, that’s a person who spiraling down,” said Abudulwahed.

A woman fell to her death from the top of one of the buildings outside of the stadiums as they were all walking in.

“All the graduates that were walking by the gate, like she fell right next to them,” said Abudulwahed.

Abudulwahed said this was his first OSU graduation despite being an alum because his graduation was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He says he and his family were stunned to see it all unfold but were disappointed in his alma mater’s decision to not address the situation during the ceremony.

“I feel like it should have been at least addressed at the graduation. Yeah, of course, you have to continue the graduation. People flying in and out of state. Like I said, a lot going on, but I feel like just being able to address it and, you know, maybe even have a minute of silence for it or, you know, just something I think that’s very, like, important,” said Abudulwahed.

The university did send out an email offering mental health services to the graduates. Abudulwahed said since he witnessed that death first hand, he especially feels for his sister and the other graduates who will never forget that day.

“I mean, it’s it’s very tough. I feel like with everything that’s happened in the world. Like, I mean, personally, I feel desensitized, but it was definitely shocking to like, kind of see a person lose their life right there, especially when you’re going to a celebration. I feel like that’s really sick. I really feel for the graduates that were walking into the gates, like this is their graduation day,” said Abudulwahed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.