Busloads of students from Notre Dame joined hundreds more on Monday at the funeral of 20-year-old Declan Sullivan who died last week after the tower from which he was filming football practice fell over.
Sullivan, a junior with a double major in marketing and film from Illinois, was transported from the LaBar practice complex to a South Bend hospital, where he died.
The young man was in a scissor lift recording video footage of a football practice during a strong wind advisory when the lift toppled onto the street.
The death has been classed as a workplace fatality.
To remember Sullivan Irish songs were played at his memorial and people openly mourned his death.
Sullivan's Irish uncle, Michael Miley said that family now have to "let go of fear and anger and emotions."
"It was beautiful and soaring," he said describing the funeral.
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly also attended the funeral with a group of college students.
Speakers at the service included Sullivan's sister, a Notre Dame student.
The funeral also featured a choir and Irish performances, said Miley, the family spokesman.
"We hope over the next few days, weeks and months that people in the community will heal as we are beginning to do," Miley said.
An investigation is underway to see if the lift was being operated safely.
Moments before his death, Sullivan tweeted that the windy conditions were "terrifying."
Winds in the area were gusting to 51 mph at the time, according to the National Weather Service.
"Declan was a very passionate kid when it came to media, when it came to telling stories," Miley said.
"He died doing what he loved."
Notre Dame, who host Tulsa this Saturday, canceled post-practice interviews after the accident.
"In the midst of a season where you are disappointed with the outcomes ... you can lose sight of what's most important. Sad day at practice," senior linebacker Brian Smith posted on his Twitter page. "I will never forget today."
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