A MAN who nearly died after plummeting two stories at a Pittsburgh Pirates game showed up in court to support his friend, who is accused of causing the fall.
Kavan Markwood, 21, made national news in April for falling over a 21-foot wall at PNC Park, causing him to spend months recovering from the near-fatal fall.
Markwood was not believed to have been intoxicated during the incident and just fell over the wall out of excitement.
No charges were pressed against Markwood, as the fall was deemed accidental.
However, police say credit card receipts show that Markwood’s friend, Ethan Kirkwood, had purchased two beers for the 20-year-old Pirates fan at the time of the game, CBS News affiliate KDKA reported.
Kirkwood was charged with two misdemeanors for selling or furnishing alcohol to a minor.
Kirkwood appeared in court on September 29, where one of the charges was waived, leaving him to face just one misdemeanor.
Kirkwood’s lawyer said that he and Markwood have a brotherly bond, as they’ve lived together since Markwood’s parents passed away.
The bond was proven as Markwood showed up to support Kirkwood during his hearing.
Records indicate that Kirkwood is scheduled to appear in court again on November 13.
A spokesperson for the Pittsburgh Pirates told KDKA that receipts from the April 30 game, in which Markwood was injured, showed that someone in his group had legally purchased drinks four times.
PNC Park has a two-drink limit, meaning only two drinks can be bought at a time, so the purchaser went up four separate times to purchase alcohol.
In total, the of-age fan bought four beers and three Surfsides.
“We are committed to creating a fan experience that is both enjoyable and safe, and our long-standing alcohol compliance program is fundamental to that commitment,” a food service provider for PMC Park told KDKA.
“Our thoughts remain with the fan and his friends and family.”
ROAD TO RECOVERY
Markwood’s shocking fall caused panic in the stadium during the Pittsburgh Pirates versus Chicago Cubs game as medical professionals rushed to help the fan.
Players on both teams took a knee as the fan was being helped and escorted out of PNC Park.
Markwood’s recovery was uncertain at first, but just days late,r his family members said he was “awake, alert, and able to speak.”
“Kav took his first steps today! It’s a slow, slow process, but seeing him up and moving was a huge win and definitely lifted everyone’s spirits,” Jennifer Phillips wrote in an update.
Markwood’s doctors also praised his recovery efforts, saying the fan has “progressed really, really well.”
“He’s at a point now where he’s off the breathing machine, he’s out of the intensive care unit, and he’s preparing to move to the next step, which will be physical therapy rehab,” Allegheny General Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr. Al Philp said in May.
“Seeing him recover so quickly has really been gratifying, frankly, ahead of schedule from what we would have anticipated given the real severity of his injuries.”
