By Eileen Buckley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-794417.mp3
Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo News is mourning the loss of one of its own. Sports reporter Tom Borrelli died Thursday morning at ECMC following a tragic accident a couple of weeks ago.
Borrelli was severely injured when he fell down a set of stairs at All High Stadium in Buffalo as he was working to cover a high school game. It's beleived Borrelli first struck his head on a steel girder as he reached the top of the stairs to get to the press box, then fell backwards down a set of steep, metal stairs. The accident left Borrelli paralyzed from the neck down. He was on a respirator.
News Managing Editor Howard Smith says as staffers arrived yesterday they were in shock to learn of his death.
WBFO News contacted the Buffalo School District for their response to the tragedy. District officials are being tight-lipped about what some sportswriters say is a very dangerous situation at the All High press box. But the District released the following written statement on behalf of Schools Superintendent James Williams:
"Superintendent Dr. James A. Williams, the Buffalo Board of Education, and entire Buffalo Public School District mourn the loss of Buffalo News sports reporter Tom Borrelli, and we express our heartfelt sympathies to his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Borrelli's wife Karen, his father George, and his immediate family during this difficult time."
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