A brief moment of celebration at PNC Park on Wednesday night gave way to concern, as reactions from the field, the stands, and a hometown community followed.

In the seventh inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a baseball fan fell 21 feet from the stands onto the right-field warning track, abruptly halting play between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs.

Witnesses told TribLive that 20-year-old Kavan Markwood had removed his shirt and poured beer on himself while celebrating Andrew McCutchen’s go-ahead double, then lost his balance and fell over a 3-foot railing in Section 142.

The Pirates stated that the 36-inch railing exceeds current building code requirements. The fall occurred just behind the 21-foot Clemente Wall, which honors Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente and his retired number.

Emergency crews, including police, EMS, and team trainers, responded immediately. They stabilized Markwood on the field and transported him to Allegheny General Hospital, where he remained in critical condition on Thursday.

News of the fall quickly spread, shocking Markwood’s hometown community. A 2022 graduate of South Allegheny High School, he played college football at Walsh and Wheeling universities.

“He’s a fighter. He’s going to need that resiliency now. But he has it,” emphasized district spokeswoman Laura Thomson. “He has the prayers and the support of the South Allegheny community.”

Former coach Frank Cortazzo called Markwood “not only an outstanding athlete but an even more exceptional young man.” He added, “His resilience, heart and strength are truly unmatched.”

In a separate statement, Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said, “We are devastated,” and called the incident “one of the most difficult moments many of us have ever experienced.”