A Rams victory parade photographer was injured Wednesday in a frightening fall from a stage during a rally with the team and fans outside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The LA Rams and Staffords told NBCLA they will be covering her medical bills and camera equipment.
“We have been in communication with Kelly Smiley since yesterday’s incident and we are sorry for what happened. As we told Kelly, we will be covering all her hospital bills and replacing her cameras. We wish her a speedy recovery,” they said in a statement.
Video shows the photographer fall as she was preparing to take photos of Matthew Stafford and his wife after the rally in Exposition Park.
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Photographer Kelly Smiley retweeted a video of the fall and said, “That’s me. Waiting at the ER for X-ray results. Both my cameras broke but I’m ok.”
She later tweeted that she fractured her spine.
Smiley, who currently lives in Long Beach, according to her website, graduated from San Diego State. During her time on campus she worked for the Daily Aztec, winning multiple awards for photos of SDSU football games and has received accolades from San Diego’s Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the San Diego Press Club. She currently works as a photo editor with the NFL, NHL and NBA, according to her site.
A GoFundMe fundraiser titled Help Kelly Get Back On Her Feet! was started to raise money for her medical expenses and camera equipment, which was damaged in the fall. NFL photo editor, Tim Kothlow established the GoFundMe page on her behalf. As of Thursday afternoon, more than $45,000 had been raised.
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“Kelly is loved by all who know her and is a well-respected individual in the photography community,” he said in the post.
Video of the fall appears to show Stafford say something to wife Kelly, then walk away as she checks on Smiley.
The rally featured players, coaches and family members on a stage in front of fans outside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Several players, including Stafford, spoke at the rally, which followed a one-mile victory parade in Exposition Park.
