Photographer who fell in front of Stafford suffered injury

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Photographer who fell in front of Matthew Stafford suffered serious injury

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated 2/17/22

A photographer took an ugly fall while trying to take a picture of Matthew Stafford during the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl parade on Wednesday, and she unfortunately suffered a significant injury.

The photographer, Kelly Smiley, fell backwards off a high stage when she was looking down at her camera. The video of the incident went viral in large part because of Stafford’s reaction. Stafford appeared to say “oh my God” before immediately turning and walking away. The quarterback’s wife Kelly looked concerned and walked toward Smiley.

Stafford saw her fall and told Kelly to take care of it pic.twitter.com/FmzGJNZQXf

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 17, 2022

Smiley shared the video on Twitter Wednesday night and said she suffered a fractured spine.

Unfortunately I fractured my spine https://t.co/LeDjF4EJnp

— Kelly Smiley (@kellysmiley23) February 17, 2022

Smiley’s friend has started a GoFundMe page to help raise money to cover the photographer’s medical expenses. The fundraiser also says Smiley “severely damaged” her equipment and will need to replace it.

Stafford has faced some criticism for the way he reacted, but he had been drinking with his teammates all day. He wasn’t exactly in position to help a person who fell off a 10-foot stage, and he probably realized that.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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