Euro 2016: Northern Ireland fan dies after fall in Nice

A Northern Ireland fan has died in Nice, French police have confirmed.

It is believed Darren Rodgers, who was 24 and from Ballymena, was on his own and fell about eight metres from a promenade onto a rocky beach.
Supt Nigel Goddard, who is leading the PSNI team in France, said he was told it was an accident and not in any way disorder related.

Northern Ireland played Poland in the city on Sunday night in their first match of Euro 2016.
The accident happened in the early hours of Monday.
Mr Rodgers was from the Meadowvale area of the County Antrim town and was a former pupil of Cambridge House Grammar School.
In a statement, his family thanked the local community for their support.

Supt Goddard said: "I was informed this morning by my French counterparts of this tragic news

"I believe it was an accident."

'Tremendously sad news'

Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster attended Sunday's game.

"The whole atmosphere was one of great excitement, great joy, all the Northern Ireland fans and Polish fans were having a tremendous experience, a tremendous time together," she said.

"So it is tremendously sad news to hear this morning that a young fan has lost his life. I do, of course, want to express my deepest sympathy to the family back home in Northern Ireland

"It is news that will come to them as a terrible shock. A young man going out there to have the trip of a lifetime and to be told that this has happened, it just is really shocking."

Patrick Nelson, the chief executive, of the IFA 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 in Nice in the early hours of this morning.

"The thoughts of everyone at the association are with his family and friends at this time."

Gary McAllister of the Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs said: "I'm sure that every Northern Ireland fan, both here in France and at home, will be thinking of Darren and his loved ones at this very sad time."
 

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