A fan is in critical condition after he fell out of the outfield stands and onto the warning track at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park during the April 30 game between the Pirates and Chicago Cubs.
The incident occurred during the bottom of the seventh inning.
Per a video shared on social media, the fan appeared to be sitting in the front row of seats in right before he tumbled over the top rail and fell to the dirt below. The scary fall was from one of the highest stretches of seats in the outfield — the tallest fence in the outfield is right field at 21 feet, per the Pirates, in honor of Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, who wore the number and manned right field.
The fan received medical attention on the field and was placed on a backboard and taken off on a cart, per social media videos.
In an update Thursday morning, Pittsburgh Public Safety said the incident was being treated as an accident and that the man remained in critical condition
The Pirates released a statement about the incident after the game, which was restarted after a brief delay (the Pirates won 4-3):
‘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.’
Pittsburgh Public Safety said ‘VCU detectives are investigating’ the incident.
In the past 15 years, at least two fans have died as the result of significant falls that occurred at MLB stadiums. One occurred at the Texas Rangers’ old stadium in 2011; another took place at Turner Field, the former home of the Atlanta Braves, in 2015.
This story has been updated with new information.