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Tragic: Northern Ireland fan dies after falling from promenade in Nice

Darren Rodgers, who was aged 25 and from Ballymena, is believed to have been on his own when he fell onto a rocky section of the beach.

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Northern Ireland won their qualifying group thanks in part to supreme defensive organisation and that was in evidence in Nice, where Evans and Gareth McAuley excelled as part of a three-man central defence.

Northern Ireland played Poland in the city on Sunday night in their first match of Euro 2016.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill passed on condolences from both himself and his team. Thoughts with family and friends.

The incident occurred when the man fell eight metres off the promenade, a Nice police spokesperson said.

Northern Ireland fans were drawn into fighting in Nice on Saturday night as European Championship violence spread, witnesses said.

“A club official said: “(He was) a man who on and off the pitch would have done anything for you, always great craic and giving his all every game.

In a show of solidarity with our neighbouring team, supporters intend to have a minute of applause in honour of Darren in the 24/25th minute of this evening’s game between Ireland and Sweden.

“Thoughts and prayers with your family and friends”.

“On behalf of the Irish Football Association, I would like to express my deep sadness at the tragic death of a Northern Ireland supporter”, said Patrick Nelson, CEO of the Irish FA, in a statement.

The twenty-five-year-old lost his life after falling over a barrier from a promenade onto a hard pebble beach in Nice at around 2am on Monday morning, police said. “Perhaps. These are the two main leads we are investigating into what may have caused this death”.

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He is understood to have missed the first Northern Ireland match of the tournament against Poland.

Northern Ireland's Will Grigg attends a news conference