A MAN who nearly died after plummeting two stories at a Pittsburgh Pirates game showed up in court to support his friend, who is facing misdemeanor charges in relation to 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.
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Kavan Markwood was rushed to the hospital at a Pittsburgh Pirates gameCredit: Facebook/Kav Markwood
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Markwood fell two stories at the gameCredit: X
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His friend, Erik Kirkwood, was charged with two misdemeanors for allegedly supplying Markwood with alcoholCredit: YouTube/CBS Pittsburgh
Markwood was believed to have been intoxicated during the incident and 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, as reported by CBS News affiliate KDKA.
Kirkwood was charged with two misdemeanors for furnishing alcohol to a minor.
Kirkwood appeared in court on Monday, 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 has been 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.
New vid shows moments leading up to Pirates fan Kavan Markwood’s horror 21ft plunge at game as family begs for prayers
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.”
LEGAL TROUBLES
Markwood’s appearance in court comes as he faces his own legal troubles with his ex-girlfriend, according to CBS News.
The Pirates fan’s ex-girlfriend recently filed nighttime prowling charges against him.
The ex-girlfriend claimed that Markwood had attempted to gain entry into her home and sent several text messages to her.
Police say that Ring doorbell footage shows Markwood “forcefully knocking on the front door” then leaving.
Officers caught the 21-year-old one street away where they said he admitted to being at his ex-girlfriend’s home and sending her several text messages.
Markwood was released from custody and is charged with one misdemeanor count of loitering and prowling at nighttime.
ROAD TO RECOVERY
Markwood’s legal troubles comes nearly six months after his shocking fall.
The fan’s 21-foot fall caused panic in the stadium during the Pittsburgh Pirates versus Chicago Cubs game as medical professionals rushed to help the fan.
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Markwood fell 21 feetCredit: X
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Markwood nearly died after the fallCredit: KDKA-TV
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,” Markwood’s mother, Jennifer Phillips, wrote in an update on the family’s GoFundMe page.
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.”