The Pittsburgh Pirates were left shaken after a fan’s terrifying fall onto the playing field at PNC Park, turning what should have been a moment of celebration into a somber scene, according to veteran outfielder Andrew McCutchen on Thursday.
Following McCutchen’s dramatic two-run double that gave the Pirates a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning on Wednesday night, a fan toppled over the Roberto Clemente Wall in right field, appearing motionless on the ground before emergency responders quickly rushed him to the hospital.
“We’re devastated by what happened yesterday,” McCutchen said Thursday. “After the game, we all gathered as a team and said a prayer for him. We’re hoping for the best for him and his family.”
McCutchen, a fan favorite, shared that the team’s thoughts were firmly with the fan and his loved ones.
“We’re all thinking about him and praying for the best outcome,” McCutchen added. “I hope he pulls through. It was a tough situation, and we’re definitely keeping him in our thoughts.”
The fan who fell during the game was identified on Thursday as 20-year-old Kavan Markwood, a standout high school football player, according to a statement from a spokesperson for the South Allegheny School District. Public records confirm his age.
Markwood, a 2022 graduate of South Allegheny High School, was recognized as the team’s MVP and earned first-team all-conference honors during his time as a student-athlete, the spokesperson added.
“Kavan is known for his resilience, strength, and kindness,” the spokesperson said. “He is a friend to everyone, someone who lifts others up and faces challenges with courage and grace.”
Markwood remains hospitalized in serious condition, the statement confirmed. The unsettling moment was captured on video by fan Bobby Ketter, who didn’t immediately realize what he had recorded.
Ketter, attending the game with his father to celebrate his dad’s recovery from a stroke, was cheering for McCutchen’s pivotal hit when the incident occurred. “It took a couple of minutes before I realized I had the video,” Ketter told NBC News on Thursday. “Then, people started gathering around me, watching it over my shoulder, and that’s when we all realized what had happened.”
Ketter described the eerie silence that followed the fall, contrasting sharply with the previously loud cheers from the 11,297 fans in attendance. “It was an eerie silence,” he said. “You saw the players taking a knee, and you could see the gentleman on the warning track, motionless. Everyone was very confused.”
He also praised the swift response of medical personnel. “Honestly, shoutout to PNC Park,” Ketter said. “The EMS were quick and right there.”
While law enforcement continues to investigate the incident, Pittsburgh Public Safety stated that the fall appears to have been accidental and not the result of any criminal activity.
