Kavan Markwood, a Pittsburgh Pirates fan critically injured in a fall onto the field at PNC Park during a game against the Chicago Cubs, spoke publicly for the first time on what happened.
The incident occurred late last month, when Markwood was caught on video celebrating a play and flipping over a railing onto the home field.
In his first interview since the dramatic incident that made nationwide headlines, Markwood told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review he has “broken everything.”
“I’m all right,” he told the outlet. “I can’t really sleep. I have a lot of back pain.”
A GoFundMe set up by his girlfriend’s mother said Markwood broke his neck, clavicle and back. More than $60,000 has been raised as of Friday.
“I think when I get home I’ll just put ice on it,” Markwood told the Tribune-Review, saying he would speak more once released from the hospital sometime next week.
Markwood has not watched the horrifying video of his fall over the Roberto Clemente Wall, where he landed on the field during the Pirates’ game against the Cubs, the Tribune-Review reported.
The 20-year-old plunged two stories after celebrating Pirates outfielder and team leader Andrew McCutchen hitting a two-run double that gave the Pirates a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning.
Markwood appeared motionless before being rushed to Allegheny General Hospital in critical condition.
More than 11,000 people were in the stadium that Wednesday night, falling silent as players took a knee.
Pittsburgh Public Safety said the incident was accidental, not criminal, on May 1 and did not plan on providing additional public updates.
The update from Markwood himself comes after his sister, Taryn Markwood, said in a statement Monday that her brother was breathing on his own, able to speak and squeeze her hand.
“To the Pirates and Cubs players, coaches, staff, and all who paused to take a knee in prayer during that tragic moment — your compassion did not go unnoticed,” Taryn Markwood said in her statement. “It brought a sense of unity and hope amidst the chaos.”
The South Allegheny School District said Markwood graduated in 2022 and was a football standout, with first-team all-conference honors and being named team MVP.
Baseball fans were stunned after a fan fell from the stands at Wednesday’s Cubs game against the Pirates
This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:
- Sue Bird named first managing director of USA Basketball Women’s National Team
- Thunder set NBA playoff record as they demolish the Nuggets to even series
- 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremony locations revealed
