A Buffalo Bills fan who was injured in a fall from the upper deck of Ralph Wilson Stadium during Sunday's game between the Bills and the New York Jets has lost his job.
Buffalo ad firm Eric Mower and Associates released a statement Tuesday saying that Rob Hopkins "is no longer employed by EMA."
Hopkins was inadvertently filmed on the CBS broadcast of Sunday's game sliding down a safety railing in the 300 level of the stadium. As the cameras kept rolling, Hopkins could be seen losing his balance and falling over the railing to the 200 level, a drop of about 30 feet.
Witness Jeff Savidge told the New York Post that Hopkins immediately got up and said he was OK, but was stopped by security from leaving the scene. Emergency workers put a neck brace on Hopkins and took him out of the stadium on a chair stretcher. Savidge said that fan Hopkins landed on was taken out of the stadium on a backboard after security had kept him upright in his seat to await medical attention.
Both men were taken to local hospitals, where they were treated further and released.
On Monday, Bills President and Chief Executive Russ Brandon issued a statement banning Hopkins from ever returning to the stadium, saying that Hopkins demonstrated "irresponsible behavior that ... is a violation of our Fan Code of Conduct and cannot, and will not, be tolerated."
Erie County (N.Y.) Executive Mark Poloncarz agreed with the franchise's decision, saying "By his actions, this individual has shown that he is a danger to himself and others, and we fully support barring him from future events at the Stadium." Erie County owns Ralph Wilson Stadium and leases it to the Bills.
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