A Pittsburgh Pirates fan, 20-year-old Kavan Markwood, was gravely injured after falling over 20 feet from an outfield wall during a game against the Chicago Cubs last week. The incident occurred in the seventh inning when Markwood, celebrating an RBI double by Andrew McCutchen, leaned over a railing, lost his balance, and plummeted to the field below. The game was paused for several minutes as medical crews attended to him and removed him from the field.
Markwood sustained severe injuries, including a broken neck, clavicle, back, and brain, along with spinal, rib, and lung damage. Despite the extent of his injuries, he told TribLive he’s managing “all right” but struggles with significant back pain and sleeplessness. He has not yet watched footage of the fall and described his recovery as a slow process.
Dr. Allan Philp from Allegheny General Hospital reported that Markwood has made progress, no longer requiring a breathing machine and moving out of the ICU.
He is now preparing for physical therapy and rehabilitation. Markwood’s resilience has been a source of encouragement for his loved ones, with Jennifer Phillips, his girlfriend’s mother, noting his strength and the family’s optimism for his recovery with proper rest and medical care.
A former high school football star and Division II college player at Walsh and Wheeling, Markwood is supported by a GoFundMe campaign that has raised nearly $50,000 to aid his recovery.
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