Pirates fan critically injured in PNC Park fall was ex-college football player
By Josh Sanchez
The Pittsburgh Pirates fan who left the MLB world shaken when he plunged 20-feet from the Clemente Wall at PNC Park on Wednesday night during a game against the Chicago Cubs has been identified.
The fan, who remains in critical condition with a skull fracture and is fighting for his life, has been identified as 20-year-old Kavan Markwood.
Markwood is a former college football player for the Wheeling Cardinals. Wheeling University is located in West Virginia, while Markwood is a native of McKeesport, Pennsylvania and attended South Allegheny High School.
MORE: Pirates' Andrew McCutchen sends heartfelt note about critically injured fan who fell
The news was confirmed by TribLive by spokesperson for the South Allegheny School District.
“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,” district spokeswoman Laura Thomson said in a statement. “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.”
MORE: Pirates fan hospitalized after 20-foot fall from Clemente Wall at PNC Park
Before Thursday afternoon's game against the Cubs, the Pirates took a moment to offer prayers to Markwood and recognizing the medical personnel who quickly attended to him and helped rush him to the hospital.
The Pirates took a moment before the national anthem to acknowledge what happened last evening, provide a statement from owner Bob Nutting and thank the first responders who helped assist the injured fan. pic.twitter.com/u2bP0dzQgm
— Noah Hiles (@_NoahHiles) May 1, 2025
GET MORE TOP STORIES from The Big Lead by subscribing to TBL YouTube channel
MLB: Pirates fan reportedly suffers 'skull fracture' in 20-foot PNC Park fall
NBA: LeBron James gets real about retirement talk after Lakers playoff exit
NFL: Shedeur Sanders tops NFL rookie jersey sales following 2025 NFL Draft
CFB: Bill Belichick statement defends 24-year-old gf Jordon Hudson, rips media narrative
SPORTS MEDIA: Dirk Nowitzki has hilarious response to Steve Nash joining Amazon Prime Video