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Nov 20, 2008 04:30 PM
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Wed Feb 10
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Tom Borrelli, a sportswriter for the Buffalo News died today after an accident that happened at high school football game. On November 8, Borrelli was climbing up a steep metal staircase (almost like a ladder, really) on the way to the press box at All High Stadium, when he hit his head on a girder above him and fell backwards down the steps to the concrete floor. He was paralyzed from the neck down, and remained on a respirator for almost two weeks before passing away early this morning.
The press box in question was built in 1929 and if you've ever been to a really old gym or stadium, you know how scary some of those places can be. In fact, Borrelli was not the first person to fall down that very staircase. Several others have complained about falling or nearly falling or hitting their head on that same girder. One radio commentator and long-time area coach has even said that he will never go up there again.
The 51-year-old Borrelli was a fixture at local sporting events and is actually a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame for his work covering the Buffalo Bandits, the current National Lacrosse League (indoor) champions.
Sportswriter dies of injuries suffered in fall at All High [Buffalo News]
Stadium press box reopens in accident aftermath [Buffalo News]
A very very sad day - Tom Borrelli is gone [Ultimate Sports Road Trip]
Send an email to Dashiell Bennett, the author of this post, at dashiell@deadspin.com.
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