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Orlando Massacre Survivor Dies At Birthday Party

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ORLANDO (CBSMiami) -- There was heartbreak in Orlando Tuesday after one of the men who survived the Pulse nightclub shooting suddenly passed away at a friend's birthday party.

Survivor Chris Brodman, back on June 21st, told News6 how he narrowly escaped during the nightclub shooting.

"I said run. Just run, run, run. And we all just ran out the bar," said Brodman.

Brodman said he wanted a Pulse tribute tattoo to honor his friends who were killed.

"Just remember the victims, you know. The people who didn't make it out," said Brodman.

Friends of Brodman have been posting on social media, saying he died early Sunday morning while attending a friend's birthday party in Tampa.

The Hillsborough Sheriff's Office says it was called to a home on reports that a male was found unconscious. Investigators have not released the man's identity pending his family being notified.

"It's very sad to me you know, that he was one of the survivors that did a documentary with me and to hear the sad news that unfortunately, he lost his life just this weekend," said Orlando Torres, a nightclub shooting survivor.

Fellow Pulse survivor Orlando Torres said he found out through Brodman's boyfriend about his death.

"Everybody says, as the saying goes, when your number is up, God only knows when it's your number. It wasn't our number up at Pulse that night and you know, we can't prevent it. It's going to happen; it's going to happen," said Torres.

Investigators say there were no obvious signs of foul play, and their investigation is ongoing.

Escaping death three months ago, Brodman's friends are now saddened by his life now cut short.

"He had it always in his heart that he felt he lost many just as well, and it's unfortunate this had to happen to someone that is just so sweet and nice and didn't deserve it, like anybody else," said Torres.

 

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