A 33-year-old man’s wild evening at the White Sox game came to a scary halt when he tumbled into the Kansas City Royals bullpen in right field, prompting a brief delay in play.
The Royals-White Sox game at Guaranteed Rate Field was delayed for approximately 10 minutes on Wednesday while medical personnel attended to the fan, who suffered minor injuries in the fall. According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred when the man attempted to climb over a railing in the right-field stands to get a closer look at the action on the field.
Video Shows the Harrowing Moment
A fan’s cell phone caught the entire ordeal on camera, which shows the man tumbling over the rail, bouncing off a few seats, and landing on the field in front of the bullpen.
The Royals’ bullpen was active at the time, with pitchers warming up for the game, and the man somehow managed to slip into the area without being stopped. According to a witness, the man got up, seemingly unhurt, and started walking towards the Royals’ dugout before being escorted away by stadium security.
Stadium Staff and Security Praised for Quick Response
“The staff and security here at Guaranteed Rate Field responded extremely quickly and professionally to the situation,” said a spokesperson for the White Sox. “They did an outstanding job ensuring the fan’s safety and getting him the medical attention he needed.”
The fan, whose name was not released, was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The delay in play lasted for approximately 10 minutes, after which the game resumed without further incident.
Incident Raises Questions About Stadium Security</hassistant
The incident has raised questions about stadium security and the measures in place to prevent fans from getting too close to the action on the field.
According to an investigation by the Chicago Department of Emergency Management, the railing that the man climbed over was 42 inches tall, which is the standard height for railings in the Chicago area. However, the investigation also found that the railing was slightly lower than the recommended height, which may have contributed to the fan’s ability to climb over it.
The incident has sparked a debate about whether the railing should be raised to the recommended height, and whether additional security measures should be put in place to prevent fans from getting too close to the field. The White Sox have released a statement saying that they are reviewing the incident and will take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.