Kaban Markwood, a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, has spoken out for the first time following a terrifying incident where he fell over 20 feet onto the PNC Park warning track last week. This occurred during the seventh inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs. Witnesses in the stadium were left in shock, and there seemed to be a lack of medical personnel to attend to him promptly.
At just 20 years old, Markwood suffered a broken neck and collarbone as a result of the fall. Despite the severity of his injuries, he reassured everyone that he was “alright” and noted he has a long road ahead for recovery.
He mentioned, “I really can’t sleep. I have a lot of back pain,” as he communicated with a reporter. Markwood described his injuries as “all broken” and added that his hands were swollen. “When I get home, I think I’ll just put ice on it,” he said, reflecting on his situation.
Support has been overwhelming, with a GoFundMe account set up by his girlfriend’s mother, Jennifer Phillips. Markwood expressed gratitude for the assistance with his medical bills. As of Wednesday night, the fundraiser had raised over $51,000. He took a significant step in his recovery by making his first walk on Monday.
In an update on the GoFundMe page, Phillips mentioned Markwood’s resilience and the community’s hope for his ongoing recovery. Immediately following the incident, he was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where his condition was initially critical.
Pittsburgh Public Safety has classified the incident as an accident. Fans nearby mentioned they were caught up in the excitement of the game’s events and had been celebrating with drinks just before the fall. Markwood had previously played for two Division II football programs, Walsh University and Wheeling University, and participated in several games in 2023 for Wheeling.
As the incident was fresh in everyone’s mind, Pirates player Andrew McCutchen shared a heartfelt message after the fall. He expressed his sorrow over what happened, urging everyone to keep Markwood and his loved ones in their thoughts and prayers.
