Tragedy struck Notre Dame on commencement weekend in South Bend, Indiana, as a 21-year-old fell to his death from the roof of the Joyce Center Saturday morning, just a day before was to graduate.
William Meckling was a senior on the school's fencing team as well as a mechanical engineering major from Centennial, Colorado, the South Bend Tribune reported.
The Tribune cited a university news release which stated a group of students gained access to the roof of the Joyce Center by climbing up at a relatively low point. The roof was wet with precipitation, and Meckling fell. No other students were injured.
According to the South Bend Tribune:
A Notre Dame Security Police lieutenant, on patrol near the center at 3:45 a.m., was approached by two students who said they needed his assistance. The officer found the Meckling unresponsive on the ground near Gate 7 of the center, on its east side. Emergency medical personnel also responded. CPR and other efforts to resuscitate the him were unsuccessful.
Meckling was transported by ambulance to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center. The county coroner will determine the cause of death. Deputy St. Joseph County Coroner Chuck Hurley said an autopsy may not take place until Monday.
Head fencing coach Gia Kyaratskhelia recalled Meckling as a talented, competitive athlete who also showed kindness and warmth to those around him.
Kyaratskhelia told the Tribune: "Billy Meckling was ... an invaluable member of our sabre squad who left such a massive impact on all of us as a fencer and a human being."
