In a night game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the St. Louis Blues, a fan was taken to the hospital after falling from the upper concourse of PPG Paints Arena.
The incident occurred early in the first period after a goal by Anthony Mantha gave the Penguins a 2-0 lead.
Emergency services provided aid to the injured, who was not identified, after which he was transported to Mercy Hospital, located a few blocks from the arena.
The game was not stopped while aid was being provided. The Pittsburgh Police said the man was in critical condition.
Our concerns at this time are focused on this man and his family.
– Penguins’ press office
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who became the ninth player in NHL history to reach 1,700 points, said the team learned of the fall after the game.
“It’s not quite right to talk about points when you hear something like that,”
– Sidney Crosby
“Of course, our thoughts and prayers are with this person and his family, and we hope everything will be OK.”
– Sidney Crosby
Penguins coach Dan Muse also voiced condolences about the incident.
“We all come here for the sport and the game, and when you hear something like that, it really puts everything else in the background,”
– Dan Muse
“Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”
– Dan Muse
The fall marked the third similar incident at sporting events in Pittsburgh this year.
In May, Kavan Markwood fell over a railing from the top of the Clemente Wall, 21 feet high, and landed on the field at PNC Park during a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs. Markwood spent several days in the hospital but later recovered. A friend of Markwood was later charged with providing alcohol to Markwood, who was 20 years old at the time of the incident.
On Saturday evening, a worker at Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, sustained leg injuries when he fell about 50 feet while working near the stadium’s scoreboard.