Pittsburgh Pirates ‘devastated’ by fan’s fall during winning, late-inning rally

The Pittsburgh Pirates were left reeling by a fan’s scary fall on to the playing surface at PNC Park, which quickly turned a moment of joy into “devastated” concern, veteran outfielder and team leader Andrew McCutchen said Thursday.

Just after McCutchen’s dramatic two-run double gave the hosts a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning on Wednesday night, a fan spilled over the Roberto Clemente Wall in right field and appeared to lie motionless before first responders rushed him to the hospital.

“We’re devastated of the situation that took place yesterday,” McCutchen said Thursday. “So we all came in here together as a team after the game and said a prayer for him. We hope the best for him and his family. “

McCutchen, one of the team’s most popular players, said he hopes the man’s loved ones know that players are concerned.

“We’re all thinking about him and just praying for the best for him, McCutchen said. “I hope he pulls through. And yes, it was a tough situation. So yeah, we’re definitely thinking about him.”

The shocking moment was captured in viral footage by fan Bobby Ketter, who didn’t immediately know what he had recorded.

Ketter was at the game with his father, celebrating the dad’s recovery from a stroke, and they were cheering for McCutchen’s big hit.

“It was a couple minutes before I really realized that I had the video,” he told NBC News on Thursday. “Then next thing, you know, people are pounding, piling around me and watching it over my shoulder. And that’s when we all realized what happened.”

Ketter said he was struck by the sudden quiet of what had been wild cheers coming from the 11,297 paid fans in attendance.

“It was eerie silence,” he recalled. “You saw the players taking a knee. You could see the gentleman on the warning track and he has shut off, and everyone’s very confused.”

The fan praised medical personnel who acted fast: “You know that honestly? Shout out to PNC Park. The EMS, they were quick, were right there.”

While law enforcement is investigating, the fall is not believed to be a criminal act.

 “This incident is being treated as accidental in nature,” Pittsburgh Public Safety said said in a statement on Thursday. “The patient remains in critical condition at the hospital.”