Man Falls From 21-foot Wall At Pirates Game, Listed In Critical Condition

A frightening infinitesimal astatine PNC Park successful Pittsburgh connected Wednesday, April 30, is erstwhile again sparkling a spotlight connected instrumentality information astatine stadiums and ballparks astir nan country. A man fell from a 21-foot wall onto nan section during nan crippled and remains successful captious information astatine a section hospital. 

What are nan constabulary saying astir nan fall?

On Thursday, May 1, Pittsburgh constabulary said they are treating nan autumn arsenic accidental successful nature. The instrumentality tumbled complete nan railing of nan “Clemente Wall” successful correct section moments aft Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen doubled successful 2 runs to springiness nan location squad a 4-3 lead successful nan seventh inning.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette confirmed nan personality of nan man who fell arsenic 20-year-old Kavan Markwood. They said he was from McKeesport, Pennsylvania, and attended Walsh University and Wheeling University.

Players instantly called for thief from nan aesculapian unit of some teams arsenic Markwood laic connected nan informing track. They watched successful soundlessness and disbelief for astir 10 minutes earlier he was taken disconnected nan section connected a cart. Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson was visibly shaken. 

“A very, you know, scary infinitesimal and you benignant of spot for illustration everybody’s taking a knee and conscionable praying and hoping everything’s okay,” Swanson said. “Obviously, we’re conscionable praying for a good, beardown betterment conscionable to beryllium pinch him and his family. Never been a portion of thing for illustration that and evidently dream to ne'er beryllium a portion of thing for illustration that again.”

What is nan man’s information and what are nan Pirates saying?

According to a spokesperson for Pittsburgh Public Safety, Markwood was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, wherever he remains successful captious condition. Pirates’ head Derek Shelton said to reporters aft nan game.

“I conscionable want to connection thoughts and prayers pinch nan incident that happened earlier successful nan game,” Shelton said. “I convey some our aesculapian staff, nan Cubs aesculapian staff, EMS, everybody that sewage to nan gentleman. I conscionable inquire everybody to support him successful your prayers. Even though it’s 350 feet away, aliases immoderate it is, nan truth of really it went down and past laying motionless while a play is going on. Craig (Counsell) saw it, I saw it, we some sewage retired there.”  

On Thursday, Pirates proprietor and Chairman Bob Nutting released a connection expressing nan team’s interest for Markwood and his family.

“We are each profoundly saddened and genuinely heartbroken aft nan unspeakable mishap that occurred past night,” Nutting said. “It was 1 of nan astir difficult moments galore of america person ever experienced. We are devastated. Pirates shot is simply a community, and our fans are for illustration family. In times for illustration these, we must travel together, support 1 another, and support him and his loved ones successful our prayers.”

What tin beryllium done to forestall this from happening?

Neither Major League Baseball nor nan Pirates has commented connected what steps they mightiness return to forestall this from happening successful nan future. This is nan first specified incident astatine PNC Park, but successful nan past 15 years, location person been astir a twelve akin incidents astatine MLB ballparks pinch varying injuries, including astatine slightest 3 deaths.  

In 2011, 39-year-old Shannon Stone fell to his decease while trying to drawback a shot astatine a Texas Rangers game.

In 2015, 60-year-old Gregory Murrey fell retired of nan stands during a Braves game. He later died from his injuries.

Also successful 2015, a man trying to descent down a railing astatine Coors Field astatine a Colorado Rockies crippled fell and died from his caput injuries.

The Pirates said connected Thursday that immoderate further update connected Markwood’s information would travel from due aesculapian unit successful conjunction pinch his family.