A fan fell from above PNC Park's 21-foot-high Clemente Wall onto the right field warning track during the seventh inning of the Pirates' eventual 4-3 win over the Cubs.
The still-unidentified fan, a male, believed to be in his late 20s or early 30s, was transported in critical condition and is being treated for a head injury.
The incident occurred during Andrew McCutchen's two-run double that accounted for the final score. A video on social media shows the fan leaping with the hit, then tumbling forward in the same apparent motion before making contact with the wall multiple times on the way to the crushed-lava surface below.
Players began waving for medical personnel, and the fan was treated before being placed on a cart and removed from the field. Following the game, Pittsburgh Police were seen investigating the area where the fan was sitting, though nothing appeared to be amiss with the railing/glass in that area.
This was the first such incident in that seating section in the stadium's 25-year history.
The full statement from the Pirates: "Tonight, during the seventh inning of the game at PNC Park, an adult male fell from the right field bleachers onto the field of play. Pittsburgh EMS, as well as the Pirates' and Cubs' athletic training teams and other PNC Park personnel reacted and responded immediately and administered care. He was transported to Allegheny General Hospital. No further information is available at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."
AGH, on the North Side, is less than a mile from the stadium.
JOE SARGENT / GETTY
A fan is carted off the field at PNC Park on Wednesday night after falling from the Clemente Wall.
Derek Shelton discussed the incident after tonight's game, and McCutchen requested on the players' behalf that the clubhouse be closed to media after the game. On the Cubs' side, their manager, Craig Counsell, also spoke.
"I want to offer thoughts and prayers with the incident that happened earlier in the game and thank both our medical staff, the Cubs' medical staff, EMS, everybody that got to the gentleman, and just ask everybody to keep him in your prayers," Shelton said. "Even though it's 350 feet away or whatever it is, the fact of how it went down ... and then laying motionless while the play is going on ... I mean, Craigsaw it, I saw it, we both got out there. I don't think the umpire saw it, unfortunately, because of the way the ball kicked. It's extremely unfortunate. I mean, that's an understatement."
“I hope the gentleman’s OK," Counsell told Chicago reporters. "I’m thinking about his family and him right now. Obviously scary. I didn’t see it happen, but I saw it out there after the play. I just hope everything turns out OK.”
Around 11 p.m., McCutchen offered his prayers for the fan, posting to his X account, formerly Twitter: "Truly hate what happened tonight. Cant help but think about that guy, his family and friends. I pray tonight for him. Let us think about his loved ones and hug our families a little tighter tonight. I hope he pulls thru. May God Bless you all. Good night."
Truly hate what happened tonight. Cant help but think about that guy, his family and friends. I pray tonight for him. Let us think about his loved ones and hug our families a little tighter tonight. I hope he pulls thru. May God Bless you all. Good night 🙏🏾
Dansby Swanson, who was involved in the play that led to McCutchen's double, also reflected on the incident with Chicago reporters.
"A very scary moment," Swanson said. "You see everybody's taking a knee and just praying and hoping everything's OK. Obviously, were just praying for a good, strong recovery, just to be with him and his family. Never been a part of something like that, and obviously hope to never be a part of something like that again.
"It's definitely kind of a humble reminder, just the gratitude that we get to be able to play this game and there’s so many folks out there that obviously support us and come to games and are a big reason why we are able to do what we do. It's obviously tough and just puts things into perspective and makes you want to tell everybody you love them and never taking that for granted."
Incidents like the one that took place tonight have happened around Major League Baseball before. In 2015, an Atlanta Braves season ticket holder fell from the upper deck at Turner Field after flipping over the guard rails and later died. In 2013, a man also committed suicide during a Braves game when he jumped from an upper level at the same stadium.
In 2011, a Rangers fan named Shannon Stone fell over the left field railing to his death at the team’s former stadium, now dubbed Choctaw Stadium, trying to catch a ball thrown into the stands by Josh Hamilton. The team had a statue sculpted and dedicated in Stone’s memory in 2012.
THE ASYLUM
Fan plunges from Clemente Wall onto warning track
A fan fell from above PNC Park's 21-foot-high Clemente Wall onto the right field warning track during the seventh inning of the Pirates' eventual 4-3 win over the Cubs.
The still-unidentified fan, a male, believed to be in his late 20s or early 30s, was transported in critical condition and is being treated for a head injury.
The incident occurred during Andrew McCutchen's two-run double that accounted for the final score. A video on social media shows the fan leaping with the hit, then tumbling forward in the same apparent motion before making contact with the wall multiple times on the way to the crushed-lava surface below.
Players began waving for medical personnel, and the fan was treated before being placed on a cart and removed from the field. Following the game, Pittsburgh Police were seen investigating the area where the fan was sitting, though nothing appeared to be amiss with the railing/glass in that area.
This was the first such incident in that seating section in the stadium's 25-year history.
The full statement from the Pirates: "Tonight, during the seventh inning of the game at PNC Park, an adult male fell from the right field bleachers onto the field of play. Pittsburgh EMS, as well as the Pirates' and Cubs' athletic training teams and other PNC Park personnel reacted and responded immediately and administered care. He was transported to Allegheny General Hospital. No further information is available at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."
AGH, on the North Side, is less than a mile from the stadium.
JOE SARGENT / GETTY
A fan is carted off the field at PNC Park on Wednesday night after falling from the Clemente Wall.
Derek Shelton discussed the incident after tonight's game, and McCutchen requested on the players' behalf that the clubhouse be closed to media after the game. On the Cubs' side, their manager, Craig Counsell, also spoke.
"I want to offer thoughts and prayers with the incident that happened earlier in the game and thank both our medical staff, the Cubs' medical staff, EMS, everybody that got to the gentleman, and just ask everybody to keep him in your prayers," Shelton said. "Even though it's 350 feet away or whatever it is, the fact of how it went down ... and then laying motionless while the play is going on ... I mean, Craig saw it, I saw it, we both got out there. I don't think the umpire saw it, unfortunately, because of the way the ball kicked. It's extremely unfortunate. I mean, that's an understatement."
“I hope the gentleman’s OK," Counsell told Chicago reporters. "I’m thinking about his family and him right now. Obviously scary. I didn’t see it happen, but I saw it out there after the play. I just hope everything turns out OK.”
Around 11 p.m., McCutchen offered his prayers for the fan, posting to his X account, formerly Twitter: "Truly hate what happened tonight. Cant help but think about that guy, his family and friends. I pray tonight for him. Let us think about his loved ones and hug our families a little tighter tonight. I hope he pulls thru. May God Bless you all. Good night."
Dansby Swanson, who was involved in the play that led to McCutchen's double, also reflected on the incident with Chicago reporters.
"A very scary moment," Swanson said. "You see everybody's taking a knee and just praying and hoping everything's OK. Obviously, were just praying for a good, strong recovery, just to be with him and his family. Never been a part of something like that, and obviously hope to never be a part of something like that again.
"It's definitely kind of a humble reminder, just the gratitude that we get to be able to play this game and there’s so many folks out there that obviously support us and come to games and are a big reason why we are able to do what we do. It's obviously tough and just puts things into perspective and makes you want to tell everybody you love them and never taking that for granted."
Incidents like the one that took place tonight have happened around Major League Baseball before. In 2015, an Atlanta Braves season ticket holder fell from the upper deck at Turner Field after flipping over the guard rails and later died. In 2013, a man also committed suicide during a Braves game when he jumped from an upper level at the same stadium.
In 2011, a Rangers fan named Shannon Stone fell over the left field railing to his death at the team’s former stadium, now dubbed Choctaw Stadium, trying to catch a ball thrown into the stands by Josh Hamilton. The team had a statue sculpted and dedicated in Stone’s memory in 2012.
The full Shelton session:
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