The Pittsburgh Pirate fan who fell 21 ft onto the sphere at PNC Park broke his neck, again, and collarbone when he hit the bottom.
Kavan Markwood, 20, took his first steps because the horrifying accident throughout Wednesday night time’s recreation, the organizer of his GoFundMe, Jennifer Phillips, wrote in an replace on his situation Monday.
“He still has a long way to go – he’s dealing with a broken neck, clavicle, and back so there are plenty of obstacles ahead,” she mentioned.
The previous faculty soccer participant is now displaying indicators of “real strength” after he was admitted to Allegheny Basic Hospital in vital situation final week.
“We’re staying hopeful for a smooth recovery. This will also require plenty of rest and following instructions from the great doctors, nurses and staff at the hospital,” Phillips wrote.
The GoFundMe web page set as much as assist with Markwood’s restoration has greater than 90 p.c of its purpose of $45,000 as of Monday night time.
Markwood fell over the Clemente Wall in proper subject of the Pittsburgh ballpark throughout Wednesday night time’s Pirates-Cubs recreation.
Stunning video exhibits the Pennsylvania native slip over a railing in proper subject, which is 3 ft excessive, alongside the wall within the seventh inning, as he was shirtless, celebrating Andrew McCutchen’s go-ahead double.
Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz was seen pointing within the route the place Markwood fell earlier than others began doing the identical, and the sport was paused.
Gamers took a knee across the subject whereas the sport halted for roughly 10 minutes.
McCutchen, who was visibly upset as he took a knee on the sphere earlier than the 20-year-old was carted off, supplied his assist on X to the fan following the sport.
“Truly hate what happened tonight,” the longtime Pirates star tweeted.
“Cant help but think about that guy, his family and friends. I pray tonight for him. Let us think about his loved ones and hug our families a little tighter tonight. I hope he pulls thru. May God Bless you all. Good night.”
Pirates supervisor Derek Shelton additionally mentioned the accident was “extremely unfortunate. That’s an understatement” throughout a post-game interview.
“Even though its 350 feet away or whatever it is, the fact of how it went down and then laying motionless while a play’s going on, (Cubs manager) Craig (Counsell) saw it, I saw it, we both got out there, I think the umpires saw it unfortunately because of the way the ball kicked,” Shelton recounted.
Markwood is a 2022 South Allegheny Excessive Faculty graduate in western Pennsylvania who performed faculty soccer at Division II Wheeling College in West Virginia as a linebacker in 2023.
