What started as a night of celebration turned into heartbreak at PNC Park on Wednesday, May 1. During the seventh inning of the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs game, a joyful cheer after.
A key hit took a devastating turn when 20-year-old Kavan Markwood fell from the stands onto the field. It happened just after Pirates icon Andrew McCutchen delivered a go-ahead double.
Fans cheered. Kavan celebrated. Then, tragedy. Witnesses say Kavan had removed his shirt and poured beer over himself in excitement.
But while leaning over the 36-inch railing in Section 142, he lost his balance—and fell nearly 21 feet onto the warning track behind the Clemente Wall, a tribute to Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente.
The stadium fell silent. In an instant, players, fans, and medical personnel rushed to help. Pirates trainers, EMS crews, and officers moved with urgency.
Kavan was carefully stabilized on a backboard and transported to Allegheny General Hospital. As of Thursday, he remains in critical condition.
