The man who fell from the top of a 21-foot-high wall onto the warning tra
ck at PNC Park during a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago
Cubs on Wednesday night is awake and alert.
The organizer of a
GoFundMe page for Kavan Markwood, the 20-year-old who slipped off a raili
ng and onto the field during the seventh inning of Pittsburgh’s 4-3 win over
the Cubs, shared an update Saturday that Markwood is improving.
According to Jennifer P
hillips, who is organizing the fundraiser, Markwood has made significant progress since being admitted to the trauma center at Alleghe
ny General Hospital on Wednesday in critical condition.
“After everything he’s been through since the accident on Wednesda
y night, this progress feels nothing short of miraculous,” wrote Ph
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illips, who once taught Markwood. “He still has a long road ahead of him, but today brought a moment of hope that we’ve all been holding onto.”
Phillips added that Markwood can speak and encouraged others to support him during his “next phase of recovery.”
As of early Saturday evening, the GoFundMe had raised more than $27,000.
The Pirates have conducted an internal investigation into the incident, whic
h included interviewing fans and analyzing credit card receipts by others in Markwood’s group.
Brian Warecki, the club’s senior vice president of communications, said the investigation concluded that Markwood did not
buy any alcohol but did consume two beers over the course of the game.
Markwood attended the game with three other people, the club said. Credit card receipts indicated that one party in the group legally bought seven alcoholic beverages during the contest.
The team said it received conflicting accounts from fans who sat near Markwood in the section that sits above the Clemente Wall, which is named for Hall of Famer and franchise icon Roberto Clemente.