A fan fell from the upper level of PPG Paints Arena during the Pittsburgh Penguins’ game against the St. Louis Blues on Monday night and is in critical condition.
The incident happened in the first period of the Penguins’ 6-3 win over the Blues, shortly after Anthony Mantha scored the team’s second goal of the night not even a minute into the game. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a man in a Penguins jersey stumbled down several stairs between sections 201 and 234 of the arena before he fell into and tumbled headfirst over a glass railing. It was described as if he “cartwheeled right over the railing.”
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The fan fell into the suite level and hit another person, who declined to be treated, before falling another level down. He was treated and taken to a local hospital, where he is in critical condition. Further specifics are not yet known.
Play was not stopped, and the game continued on normally. A small section of seats at the area were later roped off.
Sidney Crosby told the Associated Press that he and his teammates found out about the incident after the game.
“Obviously, our thoughts and prayers are with that person and their family and hopefully they’re OK,” Crosby said.
The incident came just days after a worker at Acrisure Stadium, which is home to the Pittsburgh Steelers, was taken to the hospital after he fell about 50 feet from the main scoreboard at the south end zone. He suffered severe injuries, primarily to his lower extremities, according to the Post-Gazette. A fan fell from the stands and onto the field at a Pittsburgh Pirates game in April. He hit the warning track at PNC Park and was hospitalized in critical condition at the time.