THE mother of a graduating college student has died after falling from the stands during her daughter’s commencement — but the ceremony went on anyway.
Larissa Brady was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:54 pm during Ohio State University’s graduation on May 5.
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Brady, 53, traveled from Georgia to watch her daughter pick up her Bachelor’s degree.
The circumstances surrounding her fall remain unclear.
But while firefighters and other officials responded to the scene, school officials decided to follow the program without pausing.
None of the speakers addressed the tragedy as the ceremony continued.
The last graduating students of the year continued to walk across the stage and accept their diplomas, seemingly unaware of what had happened.
Some students and staff were visibly upset after the incident, according to CBS.
Officials said they were still investigating how Brady could have fallen from the stadium, which has a belltower that OSU said stretches 136 feet into the air.
A school representative said they did not suspect foul play but believed that the fall was not accidental.
“Ohio State is grieving the death of Larissa Brady, a family member of one of our graduates,” university spokesperson Ben Johnson told CBS on Tuesday.
“Our hearts go out to her family and friends during this exceptionally difficult time.”
Ohio State is grieving the death of Larissa Brady, a family member of one of our graduates. Our hearts go out to her family and friends during this exceptionally difficult time.
Ben Johnson
The event’s commencement speaker, OSU alum Chris Pan, did not mention the death in his comments nor did school officials, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
Over 12,000 students accepted diplomas or certificates in person during OSU’s 2024 graduation ceremony.
Upon exiting the ceremony, hundreds of guests walked past the area where Brady had died, which was still blocked off by yellow caution tape.
Counseling services have been offered to staff and volunteers who were at the graduation when the fall happened, Johnson said.
WITNESSES SHOCKED
Police first received the call about Brady at 12:30 pm on Sunday.
“I need medics and some officers at gate 30… had one fall off the stadium,” an OSU officer said to dispatch.
Although most of the event’s attendees were uninformed about Brady’s death, some saw the tragedy unfold.
“No way — that’s unbelievable,” a witness told The Columbus Dispatch.
That witness said they saw an individual fall as the last graduates filed through the tunnel underneath the stadium.
Still, many attendees remained unphased until after word spread.
On Monday, school officials were still trying to confirm the woman’s identity.
Little other information was made available about the fall until Tuesday.
Ohio State University did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
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