Pittsburgh

Baseball fan's fall from bleachers at Pirates-Cubs game considered accidental

By Jason Volack, Mariama Jalloh,

2025-05-01

A baseball fan is in critical condition after falling from the bleachers onto the field during the seventh inning of the Pirates-Cubs game at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night, officials said.

The man, who fell approximately 20 feet, was treated immediately by emergency medical technicians, as well as athletic trainers from both teams and PNC Park personnel, according to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The fall briefly halted the game as emergency crews responded.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=42gSG0_10mKONdQ00
Gene J. Puskar/AP - PHOTO: A fan is carted off the field at PNC Park after falling out of the stands during the seventh inning of a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, April 30, 2025.
https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=12DOoK_10mKONdQ00
Gene J. Puskar/AP - PHOTO: A fan lies on the warning track in right field of PNC Park after falling out of the stands during the seventh inning of a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, April 30, 2025.

"This incident is being treated as accidental in nature," the Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety said on Thursday.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family," the Pirates said in a statement.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said he saw the incident as it happened.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=042pJf_10mKONdQ00
Gene J. Puskar/AP - PHOTO: A fan is carted off the field at PNC Park after falling out of the stands during the seventh inning of a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, April 30, 2025.

"The fact of how it went down. And then laying motionless, while a play is going on ... it's extremely unfortunate. I mean, that's an understatement," he told reporters after the game.

Shelton said he wanted to ask "everybody to keep him in their prayers."

Fan Bobby Ketter told ABC News he didn’t notice the fall in real-time because he was watching and filming a "crucial" play, but he happened to capture the incident on video.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1z0BoF_10mKONdQ00
@Bobbk_/X - PHOTO: A fan falls onto the field at PNC Park during the seventh inning of a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, April 30, 2025.

As paramedics rushed the field, Ketter said those around him huddled around his phone to watch the footage.

"We were all in shock," Ketter said.

When the stretcher was brought out and players took their hats off, "that’s when I knew it was pretty serious," Ketter said.

"I pray that he's all right," he added.

emoji_like
emoji_sad
emoji_wow
295

Comments / 13

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

This site uses various technologies, including third-party cookies, pixels, and codes, to personalize our website functionalities, measure website usage and performance and provide targeting advertising. Information about your site visit may be stored or shared with third parties as identified in our Privacy Policy. By continuing to use this website you consent to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. If you select Reject Cookies we will not set cookies on your browser except for cookies that are strictly necessary to operate our Site and a single 'Reject Cookies' preference cookie.
... more

Comments /