LOS ANGELES (KNX) — Early Wednesday, Photographer Kelley Smiley was covering the L.A. Rams celebration parade, standing on stage in front of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with L.A. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and his wife Kelly. But that's not what Smiley was known for by the end of the day.
A video of Smiley falling from the stage while appearing to be taking a cell phone photo for Stafford and Kelly has captured the attention of many, especially those wondering why Stafford simply walked away...while his shocked wife appeared to check on Smiley.
Thursday, the photographer retweeted the video, confirming it was her that fell and explaining that her equipment broke in the fall. Some 25,000 people have liked the video, while others offered to help pay her medical bills after learning that she'd fractured her spine in the fall.
The same day of the fall, Tim Kothlow, an NFL photo editor and friend of Smiley's, created a GoFundMe page to help make good on the "lets help Kelly" promises.
"The funds raised by this GoFundMe will help cover Kelly's growing medical expenses as well as replace the camera gear that was severely damaged due to her fall," Kothlow wrote.
"Since Kelly is a working photographer, she needs this gear to help keep her working after fully recovering."
As of 1:30 p.m. Thursday, more than 970 donors have raised $38,425 for Smiley, surpassing Kothlow's original goal of $30,000.
"Kelly is loved by all who know her and is a well-respected individual in the photography community," Kothlow continued. "Please consider donating...to help Kelly hit the ground running after she heals up."
Smiley, a photo editor with the NFL, NBA, and NHL, is a former San Diego State University student. She worked at The Daily Aztec, the university's independent student newspaper, according to Austin Gayle and Adriana Heldiz, who shared the news of Smiley's injuries on Twitter.
Thursday afternoon Stafford, his wife Kelly and the L.A. Rams organization released a statement saying Smiley's medical bills would be covered, according to CBS L.A.
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