Pirates Fan Says He's 'Doing Alright' amid Recovery After Fall From PNC Park Stands

The Pittsburgh Pirates fan who fell from the stands at PNC Park gave a positive update after the accident last week.

Kavan Markwood, who was stretchered off the field after a scary 21-foot fall during the Pirates' matchup against the Chicago Cubs on April 30, said he's doing "alright" but still is dealing with "a lot" of pain.

"I can't really sleep. I have a lot of back pain," Markwood told Trib Live's Tom Davidson.

Markwood, 20, described his injuries as "broken everything" and specified that he has back and neck injuries along with a swollen hand. He fell from Clemente Wall while celebrating an Andrew McCutchen double and has been recovering at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. He said he has not watched the video of his fall.

Per Davidson, AGH’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allan Philp, added that Markwood suffered a brain injury and ailments to his spine, ribs and lungs. He took his first steps since the fall on Monday.

In the week since the fall, Markwood has received more than $46,000 through a GoFundMe to help cover his medical bills. The Pirates community has also rallied behind him and sent him well wishes, including McCutchen.

Markwood is a former Division II linebacker, playing for Walsh in Ohio and Wheeling in West Virginia.

“Kavan is a valued member of our Cardinal family. He played on the football team for the 2023 season after transferring from Walsh University,” Wheeling sports information director Zack Zeigler said, per Davidson.

Markwood was also first-team All-Conference and team MVP while playing for the South Allegheny High School football team.

“Kavan is not only an outstanding athlete but an even more exceptional young man. His resilience, heart and strength are truly unmatched,” his former coach Frank Cortazzo said.

In the first game at PNC Park after the accident, Pirates owner Bob Nutting acknowledged the fall in a statement read before the national anthem. He called it "one of the most difficult moments many of us have ever experienced" and thanked the medical staff and first responders who assisted Markwood.