After quite possibly saving a child’s life on Sunday, Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton has invited the young fan to a game.
Wharton caught the child after he fell headfirst from the Bank of America Stadium stands following the Chiefs’ 30-27 win against the Carolina Panthers.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Astonishing moment hero football player saves young fan’s life.
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Speaking on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, Wharton said he had not had a chance to meet the child, but “would like to reach out to him, get him out to a game, and be able to reflect with him a little bit more, if I could”.
A video posted to social media shows the young fan leaning over the edge of the stands at Bank of America Stadium to call to the Chiefs players leaving the field following the game.
The child loses his footing before falling headfirst from the stands, which are roughly three metres above the ground.
The footage shows Wharton apparently catching the child before lifting him back up into the stands.
“It was a natural reaction,” the 26-year-old told McAfee about catching the child.
“Usually, when I leave the game, I try to throw my gloves in the crowd, and I think I heard my name a little bit. And when I heard my name, I seen him coming down.
“There was two security guards there. I don’t think they realized what I was doing because they were looking at us. But I just had to kind of, like, push him into the stands a little bit to make sure he didn’t hit too hard.
“I kind of grabbed him right by the back of his back, and kind of pushed him into the stands a little bit more.”
The video seemed to suggest the young fan was leaning into an area not covered by railing.
A second video, apparently taken before the fall, shows a security guard attempting to hold a child back while shouting: “You can’t lean over here!”
“We are aware of the incident that took place involving a fan following the game on Sunday,” a stadium spokesperson told CNN.
“The safety and security of all our patrons are of the utmost importance to us. After every game, we evaluate all stadium processes, and this occurrence will be included in that review.”
The incident has drawn criticism from across football and social media.
Speaking on his New Heights podcast, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said: “I actually saw this and I just kept it moving (leaving the field). I felt bad after once I found out.
“I don’t know who the brainiac was to cut the railing right there. You see how there’s that little gap? What the f**k is that for?” he continued.
“Dude, he should f***ing go to school with a neck brace on and sue the f***ing Panthers. Get rich quick, kid.”
CNN has reached out to the Chiefs about the incident and the Panthers for a response to Kelce’s comments.