Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Australian football player dies in fall from Flamingo

Metro’s violent crimes section investigating Sunday morning incident at Strip hotel

Flamingo-Epicurean Affair

Heat Communications

The Flamingo Hotel & Casino

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.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy