A moment of celebration at PNC Park quickly turned tragic on Wednesday night, May 1, when a fan fell from the stands during a Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs game, prompting concern from players, spectators, and his hometown community.
The fan, identified as 20-year-old Kavan Markwood of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, fell approximately 21 feet onto the right-field warning track during the bottom of the seventh inning. The incident occurred just after a go-ahead double by Pirates legend Andrew McCutchen.
Witnesses told TribLive that Markwood had removed his shirt and poured beer on himself in celebration before losing his balance over a 36-inch railing in Section 142. Emergency personnel, including team trainers, EMS, and police, responded immediately.
Markwood was stabilized on a backboard and transported to Allegheny General Hospital, where he remains in critical condition. Authorities have confirmed the incident is being treated as accidental.
The fall occurred behind the iconic 21-foot Clemente Wall, a tribute to Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente. The Pirates organization later noted that the railing involved exceeds building code requirements.
Markwood, a 2022 graduate of South Allegheny High School, was known as a dedicated athlete. He played linebacker at Walsh University before transferring to Wheeling University, where he appeared in five games during the 2023 season and earned honors on the Mountain East Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Former Wheeling coach Zac Bruney described him to TMZ Sports as “a very good young man” who had recently left the program to pursue work, with hopes of returning.
Back in McKeesport and the greater South Allegheny area, the community rallied around Markwood. South Allegheny athletic director Mike Brown called him “a standout athlete and a young man of character,” noting his strength and quiet perseverance. East Allegheny coach Frank Cortazzo echoed that sentiment, calling Markwood’s resilience “unmatched.”
District spokesperson Laura Thomson said to TripLive the entire school community is behind him. “Kavan is a fighter, and he’s going to need that strength now, but he has it,” she said.
The emotional weight of the incident was also felt within the Pirates organization. Team chairman Bob Nutting released a statement calling the event “devastating,” adding, “It was one of the most difficult moments many of us have ever experienced… Our fans are part of our family, and we’re keeping Kavan and his loved ones in our hearts.”
As with Doubs, the outpouring of concern for Markwood highlights how quickly celebration in sport can shift to fear, and how tightly woven athletes, fans, and communities remain, both on and off the field.