IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Atlanta Braves Fan Who Fell 'Was Doing One of His Favorite Things': Family

“The night Greg passed away, he was doing one of his favorite things — watching the Braves,” Gregory Murrey's family said in a statement.
Get more newsLiveon

The Atlanta Braves fan who died after falling from the upper deck at Turner Field during a game was doing what he loved when his life ended abruptly, his family said Sunday.

Gregory Murrey, 60, landed in an area of the stands behind home plate in the seventh inning of the Braves' game against the New York Yankees Saturday night.

“The night Greg passed away, he was doing one of his favorite things — watching the Braves,” according to a family statement read by his son Jason to NBC affiliate WXIA.

Jason saidthat his father “dearly loved his family, the city of Atlanta and the Atlanta Braves."

They family said Murrey had been a season ticket holder with the same seats for 23 years. Although Turner Field has only been open since 1997, it's possible he had similar seats in its predecessor, Atlanta Stadium.

"The Atlanta Braves are deeply saddened by the loss of Greg Murrey at last night's game," the team said in a statement. "This tragic loss is felt throughout Brave Country, and the thoughts and prayers of the entire Braves organization continue to go out to his family and friends."

The team held a moment of silence for Murrey at Turner Field before their game against the Yankees on Sunday afternoon. Fans and players from both teams removed their caps from their heads and held them to their hearts during the brief memorial.

Fans and players reported commotion after the fall, which happened when Alex Rodriguez came onto the field to pinch hit.

"I thought it was a fight at first but it wasn’t a fight," said Ron Johnson, who was at the game. "EMS was doing chest compressions for about 20 minutes," he said.

Murrey's death is the third from a fall at the stadium since 2008, according to The Associated Press. A fan's death in 2013 was ruled a suicide, while an accidental fatal plunge in 2008 was blamed on alcohol.

Police are investigating what caused Murrey to fall but said they don't suspect foul play.