EPA Images/Sebastien Nogier
A Northern Ireland fan has died in Nice, after falling from the city's seafront promenade onto a rocky beach.According to the BBC, French police confirmed his death early on Monday morning. Reports suggest that Darren Rodgers, a 25-year-old man from Ballymena in County Antrim, was on his own when he fell eight metres to his death.The death is being treated as an accident by police, and is not related to the public disorder and hooliganism which has plagued the opening few days of Euro 2016. The incident took place in the early hours of Monday morning, not long after Northern Ireland's opener against Poland.Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster, who has at the game, said: "The whole atmosphere was one of great excitement, great joy, with all the Northern Ireland fans and Polish fans having a tremendous experience, a tremendous time together."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, chief executive of the Irish FA, 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."
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