Fan in critical condition after falling from Clemente Wall during Pirates game

A fan fell over the Clemente Wall, a 21-foot drop onto the right-field warning track at PNC Park, halting play Wednesday night in the seventh inning of the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs.

Andrew McCutchen had just reached second base following an RBI double that ricocheted off shortstop Dansby Swanson and into right field when the unidentified fan fell over the fence. He remained motionless on the ground.

The Pirates said in a statement that the fan, an adult male, was treated immediately by Pittsburgh EMS, the Pirates and Cubs athletic training teams and other PNC Park personnel and transported to Allegheny General Hospital. Allegheny County 911 officials said they received a call reporting the incident.

The man remained in critical condition Thursday at Allegheny General Hospital, according to Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Cara Cruz, who declined to name the victim.

“This incident is being treated as accidental in nature,” Cruz wrote in a post on social media. “Pittsburgh police do not anticipate providing any additional updates to the public.”

Pirates manager Derek Shelton offered his thoughts and prayers to the fan and thanked the medical staffs of both teams, as well as the emergency responders.

“Even though it’s 350 feet away or whatever it is, the fact of how it went down and then laying motionless while the play is going on,” Shelton said. “I think the umpires saw it, unfortunately, because of the way the ball kicked — it’s extremely unfortunate. That’s an understatement.”

The incident occurred at 8:50 p.m. Players from both teams appeared stunned, some standing in silence while others took a knee and bowed their heads. McCutchen had his hands on his head, then took a knee and placed his right hand on his batting helmet with his left hand over his mouth.

McCutchen declined comment afterward at his locker stall inside the home clubhouse, telling reporters that Pirates players didn’t want to discuss the incident.

After the game, McCutchen posted a statement to X: “Truly hate what happened tonight. Can’t help but think about that guy, his family and friends. I pray tonight for him. Let us think about his loved ones and hug our families a little tighter tonight. I hope he pulls thru. May God Bless you all. Good night.”

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said he didn’t see the fan fall.

“I don’t think we know what we saw,” Counsell said. “What we saw was somebody laying on the warning track, and you know that’s not good.”

Fans seated in Section 142 in right field, where the fan was sitting, said he was celebrating McCutchen’s RBI double, lost his balance and fell over the wall named in honor of Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente.

George Spock, 28, of Mt. Lebanon was sitting in Row B of Section 142 and said the fan rose out of his seat to celebrate McCutchen’s hit.

“Once they hit that double, he got too excited,” Spock said. “I looked over and saw everyone crowded at the fence and shouting. That’s a pretty serious fall. Something like that’s very sad to happen. You’re just here having fun. That’s the worst that could happen. Your whole day is rocked, to see something like that happen.”

Catherine Wynne, 21, who graduates from Pitt on Thursday, was watching the game with friends a few seats away from the fan in Row A when he fell. Wynne said she witnessed the fan take off his shirt and pour beer all over himself before McCutchen’s at-bat and said he was “really amped.”

“We were shaken up,” Wynne said. “We saw him after and there was a lot of blood. It just happened so fast. We were like, ‘Why aren’t people getting there faster to help him?’ ”

The game resumed after about a 10-minute delay, and the Pirates won 4-3. The teams were in no mood to talk about the game, instead sending their thoughts and prayers to the fan who fell onto the field.

“I hope the gentleman’s OK,” Counsell said. “I’m thinking about his family and him right now. Obviously, scary. I didn’t see it happen, but I saw it out there after the play. I just hope everything turns out OK.”