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Pirates Fan Who Fell Issues His First Public Comment

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated May 7, 2025 6:56 PM ET

It's been several days since Pittsburgh Pirates fan Kavan Markwood fell 21 feet from the wall at PNC Park and nearly died. Thankfully, he survived, has made huge strides in his recovery, and now is ready to speak again.

In an interview with TribLive, Markwood announced that he's "all right" after falling from the Clemente Wall while celebrating a Pirates hit last week. He said that he has not watched the footage but is dealing with a lot of pain and sleep difficulties.

“I’m all right,” Markwood said. “I can’t really sleep. I have a lot of back pain.”

Markwood reportedly suffered injuries to his neck, back and clavicle in the fall. He described his injuries as "broken everything," but joked that he'll "just put ice on it" when he gets home.

Pirates Fan Kavan Markwood Speaks Out After Fall, Grateful For Support | Click to read more https://t.co/qlgabn9ZAt
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) May 7, 2025

Jennifer Phillips, the mother of Markwood's girlfriend, has been giving updates on his condition throughout the week. As of Monday, Markwood was able to walk again

“It’s a slow, slow process, but seeing him up and moving was a huge win and definitely lifted everyone’s spirits,” Phillips wrote on the GoFundMe page for Markwood.

“He still has a long way to go — he’s dealing with a broken neck, clavicle, and back so there are plenty of obstacles ahead. But he’s showing real strength, and we’re staying hopeful for a smooth recovery. This will also require plenty of rest and following instructions from the great doctors, nurses and staff at the hospital.”

The GoFundMe effort for Markwood has already raised over $47,000 as of writing and are just $7,500 away from their target goal.

Recently released video shows a new angle of what happened leading up to Markwood's accident. Per a video shared by CBS this week, Markwood could be seen jumping for joy from a front row seat in the stands. After leaping up he apparently fell onto his abdomen and the momentum caused him to flip over the short railing and onto the field.

Had he landed even slightly differently, it's extremely likely that the 21-foot fall might have killed him.

We wish Markwood the best as he continues his recovery.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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