Pittsburgh Fan Who Fell 21 Feet Onto the Outfield Is Identified and Remains Hospitalized

Kavan Markwood, 20, a former college football player, remains in critical condition after falling into right field during a Pirates game.

A fan is carted off the field at PNC Park after falling out of the stands as the Pittsburgh Pirates played the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh on April 30, 2025. Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo

The Pittsburgh Pirates fan who fell from the stands over the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall at PNC Park has been identified.

Kavan Markwood, 20, remains in critical condition and is “fighting for his life,” after falling over the railing into right field during the seventh inning of the Pirates’ home game on April 30 against the Chicago Cubs.

“This incident is being treated as accidental in nature,” Pittsburgh Public Safety confirmed on social media platform X. “The patient remains in critical condition at the hospital.”

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (TribLive) and CBS affiliate KDKA, Markwood is a former standout student athlete who graduated from South Allegheny High School in 2022.

“Everyone at South Alle­gheny would say he is a hard-working, highly resilient young man. He’s a fighter. He’s going to need that resiliency now. But he has it,” South Allegheny School District spokeswoman Laura Thomson told TribLive.

“He’s touched a lot of lives at South Allegheny. We’re a small community. He’s a household name here. Everyone knows him. He has the prayers and the support of the South Alle­gheny community.”

Markwood played football for the South Allegheny Gladiators and, during his senior year, was named team MVP.

Upon graduating, he went on to play football at Walsh University in Ohio, and in 2023, he transferred to Wheeling University in West Virginia, where he appeared in five of the team’s 11 games as a linebacker.

In response to the incident, team Chairman Bob Nutting said the Pirates community is “deeply saddened and truly heartbroken.”

“It was one of the most difficult moments many of us have ever experienced,” Nutting said in a statement.

“In times like these, we must come together, support one another, and keep him and his loved ones in our prayers.

“We also want to thank and appreciate the efforts of the first responders who rushed to Markwood’s attention and provided him with compassionate care.”

Pittsburgh emergency medical personnel and field workers were quick to provide treatment and tended to Markwood for about five minutes before he was taken to Allegheny General Hospital.

Pittsburgh police said they “do not anticipate on providing additional updates to the public” and that any new information will be provided through medical personnel and Markwood’s family.