Sports photographer Jason Hirschfeld dies after falling 80ft from a parking garage in a freak accident

An award-winning sports photographer has died after falling 80ft out of a parking garage while taking pictures.

Jason Hirshfeld, 48, was at the top of a parking garage in Norfolk, Virginia when his freak accident happened on Saturday.

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Hirschfeld was taking photos on the eighth level of the garage before he fell, police say.

Police officers found him just after midnight on Saturday, but he died at the scene.

While Hirschfeld’s cause of death and manner of death are currently unknown, police do not believe it was a felony.

A native of Portsmouth, Virginia, Hirschfeld has photographed for The Virginian-Pilot, Associated Press, The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and ESPN over a career spanning more than 20 years.

Hirschfeld, according to The Pilot, sent three photos to The Pilot, despite not being on assignment, about four hours before he was spotted by police.

The photos appeared to have been taken from a high vantage point, the outlet reports.

The three photos captured sunset scenes from downtown Norfolk and the view of Portsmouth from across the Elizabeth River.

“He was such a positive person in everything in his life. His work, his family, everything,” Pilot sports editor Jami Frankenberry told the outlet.

“He will really be missed.”

Hirschfeld is survived by his 22-year-old wife Michelle and children Caylee, with whom he connected through music and UNO, and Ethan, to whom he passed on his love of baseball and basketball, according to his obituary.

“He had a big laugh and he definitely had a big personality,” Frankenberry said. “He just radiated positivity and enthusiasm.”

This enthusiasm showed in his photography.

“Whatever the assignment that day was, he was passionate about it,” said Frankenberry.

“He always wanted to do a good job and was very proud of his work.”

Pilot photo editor Todd Spencer said Hirschfeld was “one of the best sports photographers around.”

“He was a great storyteller with his sports photography. You can have great photos, but without a great story it doesn’t matter. He always had both.”

Hirschfeld enjoyed working with people new to the field and “had a strong sense of teaching photography,” said Stephen Katz, longtime pilot photographer and close friend of Hirschfeld’s.

“He was very engaging with the interns, freelancers and new people and it was very well received.”