‘A TRAGIC ACCIDENT:' Friends remember 'pizza dude' who fell to his death at AJ's (PHOTOS)

With the tragic death of her friend still weighing heavy on her heart, Chandra Rich said that the world lost more than a man when Radomir “Rad” Krulis passed away.

"It was just a tragic accident,” said Rich, who was a friend of Krulis’s for the past two years. “We definitely lost an angel… he took care of everyone and was like a big brother to us.”

Krulis, a 40-year-old man from the Czech Republic, was transported to the trauma center at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola in critical condition early New Year’s morning after falling 40 feet from an AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar catwalk. He later died.

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According to the police report filed by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Krulis was found near the lower parking area on the south end of AJ’s, where he was unconscious, but breathing.

Krulis, who operated Rad’s Pizza stand attached to the restaurant, was celebrating the New Year’s Eve holiday with off-duty AJ’s employees.

AJ’s released the following statement Tuesday celebrating the man who was known as the “pizza dude.”

“Radomir ‘Rad’ Krulis was a former employee who was loved by everyone at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar … There is not an employee at our restaurant that does not have a fond memory and great story of how he made them all smile or laugh. We will truly miss our friend and will be reminded of our loss.”

Based on the investigation, the report states that the man’s fall from the catwalk was “accidental,” and that there is a “high probability” that his level of intoxication was a major factor. No foul play is suspected and the case is closed according to the police report.

A witness told the deputy that Krulis had been joking around on the catwalk and was “pretending to go over the side of the guard rail.”

The catwalk, which is 40-feet off the ground, goes from the front of the restaurant to the rear bar area, according to the report and is primarily used by employees to bring supplies back and forth. A guard rail is present to “prevent” employees from falling to the parking lot below. The walkway is off limits to the public, but there is no gate or any security fence to stop people from accessing it.

Another witness, an AJ’s bartender, was with the man when he fell over the side, according to deputies. The report goes on to state that the bartender had been videotaping the intoxicated man “because he was so intoxicated that it was funny.” He said the men had been joking around on the catwalk, and the man was pretending to jump when he lost his balance and fell over the side. The bartender tried to grab onto the falling man, but was only able to grasp his shoelaces, according to the report.

For his part, AJ’s director of marketing Tracy McCraw had this to say about Krulis: “When I think of ‘Rad’ I also remember that during the summer, when my six-year-old daughter came to the restaurant, she would always look for Rad and Capt. Jack first; the captain first for her balloon sword, so that she could go and chase Rad with it. Whether you were six or 60 years old, you enjoyed being around him because he was fun, fun loving and a truly free spirit. I will miss him and my heart aches for his family who are so far away and having to deal with this loss.”

McCraw said that AJ’s is currently in the process of putting together a memorial service for Krulis, which will be held Jan. 11 at 4 p.m. at AJ’s. For friends of Krulis who would like more information, or to share photos of Rad, go to the AJ’s Facebook page or contact him personally at jtmccraw@ajs-destin.com.

For Rich, the one thing she said she would miss the most about Krulis was his compassion and his personality.

“There will never be another person like him, they definitely broke the mold after they made him,” she said. “He was the family I chose to have around me. Even though we were not related by blood, he was the older brother I would have chosen.”