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The fan who fell over 20 feet during the Pittsburgh Pirates game has been identified as former football player Kavan Markwood, who is now alert and awake in the hospital.
MLB Fan Critically Injured After Fall From Stands at Pittsburgh Pirates Game
There’s an update on the health of a devoted baseball fan.
Kavan Markwood, 20, has been identified, according to NBC News Chicago, as the attendee who fell from the stands of the April 30 MLB game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs.
According to a GoFundMe created by the mom of his girlfriend Alonna, Jennifer Phillips, while Kavan was brought to a local Pittsburgh hospital in critical condition after his fall, he’s experienced an encouraging health update.
“As of this morning, Kavan is awake, alert, and able to speak,” Jennifer wrote in a May 3 update to the page. “After everything he’s been through since the accident on Wednesday night, this progress feels nothing short of miraculous.”
She continued, “He still has a long road ahead of him, but today brought a moment of hope that we’ve all been holding onto.”
Kavan was a 2022 South Allegheny High School graduate and talented member of their football team, according to local outlet TribLive. After graduating from South Allegheny—where he was named firsts-team all-conference and team MVP as a senior—Kavan continued to play at Walsh University and Wheeling University, per the outlet.
Following his accident, district spokeswoman Laura Thomson told TribLive Kavan “is a hardworking, highly resilient young man.”
“He’s a fighter. He’s going to need that resiliency now. But he has it,” she continued. “He’s touched a lot of lives at South Allegheny. We’re a small community. He’s a household name here. Everyone knows him.”
She noted he has the “prayers and support” of the entire community.
GoFundMe
Former South Allegheny football coach Frank Cortazzo was similarly complimentary about his former player.
“Kavan is not only an outstanding athlete but an even more exceptional young man,” the coach shared in a written statement with TribLive. “His resilience, heart and strength are truly unmatched. Please keep him, his family and his friends in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate this challenging time.”
Joe Sargent/Getty Images
Following the accident—which saw the game paused as Kavan was attended to by team and local medical personnel—a number of individuals involved with the Pittsburgh Pirates shared their shock over the incident, including outfielder and designated hitter Andrew McCutchen.
“Truly hate what happened tonight,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, following the game. “Cant[sic] 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.”
(E! and NBC News Chicago are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
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