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The Flamingo Hotel & Casino
Published Monday, Sept. 10, 2012 | 9:25 a.m.
Updated Monday, Sept. 10, 2012 | 10:56 p.m.
Map of Flamingo
Flamingo
3555 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas
A five-year veteran of the Australian Football League died Sunday in fall from a Las Vegas Strip hotel.
John "J-Mac" McCarthy was found unresponsive at 5:40 a.m. Sunday on the south driveway of the Flamingo Hotel, Debbie Munch, a spokeswoman for Caesars Entertainment, said in an email statement. McCarthy was transported to University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, Munch added.
The Clark County Coroner's Office expanded on the events of Sunday morning, saying in a news release Monday afternoon that security at the Flamingo reported a person had apparently fallen from a roof of the property onto a driveway, a distance of approximately 30 feet. The person was transported to University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 6:16 a.m. The Coroner's Office positively identified McCarthy but said the cause and manner of his death still were pending.
Metro Police was less forthcoming with information. In a news release Monday afternoon, Metro said its violent crimes section was investigating a report of a man who had fallen at 5:37 a.m. Sunday in the same area, although Metro did not confirm it was McCarthy.
The news release said an investigation “remains ongoing as to the circumstances surrounding this incident.”
A source familiar with the investigation told the Sun there were indications McCarthy may have jumped from the third floor of a parking garage at the Flamingo.
McCarthy, 22, was in Las Vegas with 10 teammates from the Port Adelaide Power, according to Australian news outlet News.com.au.
More than 8,000 miles from Las Vegas, news of McCarthy’s death shook the Australian football community.
“This is a terrible tragedy for John's loved ones, and our deepest sympathies go out to them. It is a very sad day for the Port Adelaide Football Club and the rest of the AFL industry to lose a young man in the prime of his life., said Andrew Demetriou, CEO of the Australian Football League.
“John embraced Port Adelaide and we embraced him, and we are deeply shocked and saddened by his passing,” said Keith Thomas, Port Adelaide’s CEO.
“Port Adelaide extends its deepest sympathies to John’s family, girlfriend and teammates,” according to a statement posted on the team website.
McCarthy played 21 games in his first season with Port Adelaide this year after coming from Collingwood, which drafted him in 2007, the team’s statement said. He played 18 games for the Collingwood Magpies from 2008-2011.
Arrangements are being made for the other players return to Australia.
McCarthy is survived by his parents, Shane and Cath, his brother, Matt, sisters Frances, Elizabeth and Jane, his girlfriend, Dani.
How the hell do you "fall" from the Flamingo?
The Australian Rules Football season has completed Down Under and some of the teams that did not make it to the playoffs go on season ending trips.
Las Vegas is also a very tempting destination.
Of course there will be speculation as to how this event occured I also doubt that he just fell from the balcony.
Sympathy to his family and his teammates,
but I hope the truth is revealed into his death.
Comment removed by moderator. Inappropriate
That's what I want to know....how do you "fall" from the Flamingo?
They were reporting that there's an open stairwell in the area he fell and that he was described as "out of it" by someone who talked to him on the phone. I think he fell about 30 feet. If I had to make any guesses I'll say alcohol is a factor. In any event, way too young to die. I know people like to come to Vegas to have a good time...I was on the strip a couple nights ago and there are just way too many people intoxicated, stumbling around. Recipe for disaster.
It's looking more and more like Alcohol is a factor here. For those who don't know Australian Football is the biggest sport in Australia and many clubs decide to completely refrain from drinking Alcohol during the entire season. They go on these end of season trips to let loose and enjoy themselves for a few weeks away from our media spotlight before going home to start training hard again for next year. Unfortunately, sometimes things can get out of hand and it certainly looks like that's happened here. RIP Jmac, way too young
Comment removed by moderator. Inappropriate
Every time we have a jumper on the Tillman or someone tests gravity at one of the casinos, there is NEVER any mention of the previous level (or not) of the gambling. Not a peep about the compulsive gamblers who are also compulsive about a choice to end their lives. This is intentionally redacted by all parties...The Casino for sure; the LVS and various media outlets choose to ignore the obvious. A 22 year-old healthy athlete in the prime of life, does not just jump off a building without the scourge of gaming losses to put the person into the dark fog required for such a bad choice... Gaming is the heroin of suicide and the LVS should have the courage to tell the story. I am a professional gambler who has won many more times than lost"but I see the novices around me melting down on what is supposed to be entertainment?
Oh yeah Harry, let's get this onl-line! That would be such a great idea...Let's get Citibank in on this and send everyone a creditcard reader they can just connect to their HMI ports! RIP to the Aussie and condolences to the family/