The man who took a terrifying tumble onto the field at PNC Park spoke out for the first time since the incident on April 30.
Kavan Markwood told TribLive on Wednesday that he was “all right” even though he had “broken everything” due to the fall.
“I can’t really sleep. I have a lot of back pain,” he told the outlet.
Markwood fell during the April 30 game between the Pirates and Cubs and remained in at Allegheny General Hospital receiving treatment.
He told the outlet that he would be talking more about the whole situation after he’s released from the hospital in roughly a week.
“I think when I get home I’ll just put ice on it,” Markwood said about his injuries.
Allegheny General Hospital’s chief medical officer Dr. Allan Philp told reporters on Wednesday that Markwood had “progressed well.”
“At this stage, he no longer requires a breathing machine, has left the intensive care unit, and is getting ready to proceed to the next phase, which involves physical therapy and rehabilitation,” Philp mentioned to WTAE.
Markwood’s sister, Taryn, told the outlet that he had started to walk and she expressed gratitude for the response the family has gotten since.
“I’m very grateful that I have him still,” she said.
A new angle of the incident painted a clearer picture of what had occurred.
A newly released stadium security camera video captured the moment when Markwood leaped into the air to celebrate a play, struck his abdomen on the railing, and fell over.
The game was delayed 10 minutes while Markwood was treated and transported off the field.
Following the game, Pirates chairman Bob Nutting expressed sadness over the accident.
“The tragic accident that unfolded last night has profoundly saddened and broken our hearts,” he expressed in a statement. “It was an extremely difficult experience for all of us. We are in shock. Pirates baseball creates a community, where fans feel like family. During such times, we need to unite, support each other, and remember him and his family in our thoughts and prayers.”
“We also want to thank and appreciate the efforts of the first responders who rushed to his attention and provided him with compassionate care.”
