Update on injured fan who fell at PNC Park during Cubs-Pirates game
In Wednesday evening’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, a fan fell from above the 21-foot Clemente wall in the right field bleachers onto the field of play.
Rebecca Tauber from The Athletic reported Saturday that the fan, Kavan Markwood, is “awake, alert, and able to speak”, per a GoFundMe from the mother of Markwood’s girlfriend. The GoFundMe has raised over $28,000 from over 670 donations.
The GoFundMe description thanked people for their donations and support: “Your support will mean the world to this family-whether it’s through a donation or simply sharing this page. #KAVANSTRONG”
After falling from the bleachers, Cubs and Pirates medical staff immediately attended to Markwood. Play was halted for roughly five minutes as he was being attended to.
The Pirates released a statement on Wednesday night regarding the fan accident:
Players on both teams were noticeably shaken from what transpired. Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Michael Busch and Ian Happ took a knee on the infield as Markwood was being attended to. Cubs players offered their support to Markwood following Wednesday’s game.
“I just saw the urgency on (Craig) Counsell’s face … Everyone realized what was going on,” Swanson told reporters. “Everyone was taking a knee, just praying and hoping everything is OK. I’ve never been a part of something like that.”
Both Cubs manager Craig Counsell and Pirates manager Derek Shelton alerted the umpires of the accident immediately.
“First, I hope the gentleman is OK,” Counsell said following Wednesday’s. “I’m thinking about his family and him right now.”
Pirates manager Derek Shelton expressed a similar sentiment in his postgame press conference.
“I thank both our medical staff, the Cubs’ medical staff, EMS, everybody that got to the gentleman,” Shelton said. “I just ask everybody to keep him in your prayers.”


