Euro2016: Northern Ireland Football Fan Darren Rodgers Dies In French City Of Nice | HuffPost

Euro2016: Northern Ireland Football Fan Dies In French City Of Nice

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Senior Editor, HuffPost UK

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A Northern Ireland fan has died after falling from a promenade in Nice, French police have said.

Darren Rodgers, was on his own when he fell about eight metres onto a rocky beach.

Supt Nigel Goddard, who is leading the PSNI team in France, said he believed the 24-year-old's death was an accident and not related to any disorder.

Darren Rodgers died in the early hours of Monday morning

.

He is believed to have fallen after Northern Ireland played against Poland, suffering a 1-0 defeat.

A statement from the Rodgers family, from Ballymena, requested privacy.

Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness said: "It was with great shock and sadness we learned this morning of the death of Darren Rodgers in Nice last night as the result of a tragic accident.

"The loss of a young life in these circumstances is truly heartbreaking and our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family at this extremely difficult time."

Flowers are left close to the scene where Rodgers died after a fall

Michael McHugh/PA Wire

Friends have been leaving tributes to Rodgers on his Facebook page.

Lisa Getty wrote: "Absolutely devastated with the news today. Darren was always the life and soul of the party and one of the friendliest guys you'd ever meet. Thoughts are with all family and friends at the moment."

Samuel Adair said: "Was a shock to hear the news about Darren this morning. Will be missed by everyone. Been in his company a good few times and had a good laugh.

"Going down my news feed it's all about him. Just shows how much he was like. RIP mate."

A Police Service of Northen Ireland officer with a Gendarmerie in Nice, France ahead of the Northern Ireland's opening match against Poland in Euro 2016

Michael McHugh/PA Wire

Northern Ireland V Poland

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NICE, FRANCE - JUNE 12: Poland fans light flares around a statue as they celebrate in central Nice after Poland beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in the group stage of the UEFA Euro 2016 football tournament at the nearby Allianz Riviera Stadium on June 12, 2016 in Nice, France. Football fans from around Europe have descended on France for the UEFA Euro 2016 football tournament. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)

(02 of23)

NICE, FRANCE - JUNE 12: Steve Davis (L) of Northern Ireland and Grzegorz Krychowiak (R) of Poland during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group C match between Poland v Northern Ireland at Allianz Riviera Stadium on June 12, 2016 in Nice, France. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) (credit:Charles McQuillan via Getty Images)

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NICE, FRANCE - JUNE 12: Kyle Lafferty of Northern Ireland after the UEFA EURO 2016 Group C match between Poland v Northern Ireland at Allianz Riviera Stadium on June 12, 2016 in Nice, France. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) (credit:Charles McQuillan via Getty Images)

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NICE, FRANCE - JUNE 12: Jonny Evans (L) of Northern Ireland and Robert Lewandowski (R) of Poland during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group C match between Poland v Northern Ireland at Allianz Riviera Stadium on June 12, 2016 in Nice, France. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) (credit:Charles McQuillan via Getty Images)

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NICE, FRANCE - JUNE 12: Poland fans celebrate in central Nice after Poland beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in the group stage of the UEFA Euro 2016 football tournament at the nearby Allianz Riviera Stadium on June 12, 2016 in Nice, France. Football fans from around Europe have descended on France for the UEFA Euro 2016 football tournament. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)

(06 of23)

NICE, FRANCE - JUNE 12: A Poland fan wades through a fountain as he celebrates in central Nice after Poland beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in the group stage of the UEFA Euro 2016 football tournament at the nearby Allianz Riviera Stadium on June 12, 2016 in Nice, France. Football fans from around Europe have descended on France for the UEFA Euro 2016 football tournament. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)

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Poland's Jakub Blaszczykowski, left, fights for the ball with Northern Ireland's Oliver Norwood during the Euro 2016 Group C soccer match between Poland and Northern Ireland at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, France, Sunday, June 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Poland's Arkadiusz Milik, center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2016 Group C soccer match between Poland and Northern Ireland, at the Allianz Riviera stadium, in Nice, France, Sunday, June 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Northern Ireland fans sit in the stands prior to the Euro 2016 Group C soccer match between Germany and Ukraine at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve dâAscq, near Lille, France, Sunday, June 12, 2016. (AP Photo/) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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NICE, FRANCE - JUNE 12: Stuart Dallas of Northern Ireland (R) vies with Artur Jedrzejczyk (L) during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group C match between Poland and Northern Ireland at Stade de Nice on June 12, 2016 in Nice, France. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

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Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, bottom, saves a shot by Northern Ireland's Conor Washington during the Euro 2016 Group C soccer match between Poland and Northern Ireland, at the Allianz Riviera stadium, in Nice, France, Sunday, June 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (credit:Claude Paris/AP)

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NICE, FRANCE - JUNE 12: Northern Ireland fans pictured during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group C match between Poland v Northern Ireland at Allianz Riviera Stadium on June 12, 2016 in Nice, France. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) (credit:Charles McQuillan via Getty Images)

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Northern Ireland fans looks dejected after their team concede a goal as they watch the UEFA Euro 2016, Group C match between Northern Ireland and Poland at the Titanic Museum, Belfast. (credit:Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

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Northern Ireland fans looks dejected after their team concede a goal as they watch the UEFA Euro 2016, Group C match between Northern Ireland and Poland at the Titanic Museum, Belfast. (credit:Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

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Northern Ireland fans looks dejected after their team concede a goal as they watch the UEFA Euro 2016, Group C match between Northern Ireland and Poland at the Titanic Museum, Belfast. (credit:Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

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Police officers patrol outside the stadium prior to the Euro 2016 Group C soccer match between Poland and Northern Ireland, at the Allianz Riviera stadium, in Nice, France, Sunday, June 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (credit:Claude Paris/AP)

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Northern Ireland fans appear dejected in the stands after seeing their side concede the first goal of the game during the UEFA Euro 2016, Group C match at the Stade de Nice, Nice. (credit:Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

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Poland's Robert Lewandowski heads at goal whilst under pressure from Northern Ireland's Conor McLaughlin (left) during the UEFA Euro 2016, Group C match at the Stade de Nice, Nice. (credit:Nick Potts/PA Wire)

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Northern Ireland fans whilst watching the UEFA Euro 2016, Group C match between Northern Ireland and Poland at the Titanic Museum, Belfast. (credit:Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

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A heavy security presence outside the ground before the UEFA Euro 2016, Group C match at the Stade de Nice, Nice. (credit:Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

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Northern Ireland fans in the stands during the UEFA Euro 2016, Group C match at the Stade de Nice, Nice. (credit:Nick Potts/PA Wire)

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Northern Ireland fans show their support in the stands before the UEFA Euro 2016, Group C match at the Stade de Nice, Nice. (credit:Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

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Police officers patrol outside the stadium prior to the Euro 2016 Group C soccer match between Poland and Northern Ireland, at the Allianz Riviera stadium, in Nice, France, Sunday, June 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (credit:Claude Paris/AP)

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