Linda Gregory.Photo:Linda Gregory/Facebook
Linda Gregory/Facebook
A Kansas high school football photographer died last week after falling and hitting her head while taking photos during a game.
Linda Gregory, 69, fell and hit her head on the concrete on Sept. 4 as she was photographing a junior varsity game between Wichita Northwest High School and rival Bishop Carroll High, according toNBC News,ABC affiliate KMBCandThe Wichita Eaglereported.
At the time, she was on the sidelines when players accidentally “ran into” her, Wichita Northwest football coach Steve Martinsaid on Facebook a day after the incident.
Gregory was critically injured and placed on life support, per KMBC andThe Eagle.
The 69-year-old and her husband Mel shared a photography business, according to the outlets. He was with her at the game when she got knocked down.
They were a “staple at a Northwest Football Game and have become our family!” Wichita Northwest football coach Steve Martin wrote on social media. “The amount of kids these two have touched and become friends with is countless!”
Four days later, and just hours before the team’s game on Friday, Melannounced her death on Facebook, saying it was “peaceful and as she wished.”
“We had a family honor ceremony in her room and she will be transported tonight to Kansas City for the necessary preparation for donation,” he wrote. Though some of her organs were unable to be harvested, the husband said there will “still be much for helping others to live.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“I also want you to know that she would want you to place no blame on anybody, schools, sports, or players for her accident,” he continued. “I know that the players are traumatized and on her behalf, I want to show them support, Having said that I will end with what Linda would say tonight: Go Grizzlies!!!”
At Friday’s game, the players honored Linda with a moment of silence and had “LG” on their helmets, per the outlets.
“A moment of silence in honor of Linda Gregory and all that she has meant to both Northwest and Heights,” theschool wrote on Facebook. “Thank you to all for the outpouring of love and support for Linda’s husband, Mel, and the entire Northwest community.”
After the game, Melsaid on Facebookthat he was “back on the sidelines” to see Linda “honored with many tributes.”
“It was hard to do the interviews and my voice broke way too many times but I hope I made my beloved Linda Gregory proud of my attempt to be as good as she was,” he added.
source: people.com
