A scary moment happened during Friday’s game between the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies.
The game was temporarily halted in the first inning due to medical personnel attending to an emergency in the visiting bullpen. It quickly became apparent that the incident did not involve a Red Sox reliever or coach, but a fan who had apparently fallen into the bullpen.
He was eventually put onto a stretcher and carted off of the field.
Scary moment in Philadelphia. A fan is taken away on a stretcher after apparently falling into the visitor's bullpen. pic.twitter.com/XEONxlQUL3
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) May 5, 2023
People became aware that something was wrong when Philadelphia reliever, José Alvarado, as well as one of Boston’s bullpen catchers came onto the field and began signaling for help. Two EMTs ran out to the bullpen area and the cart with the stretcher soon followed.
Here's the Phillies' broadcast on NBC Sports Philadelphia learning about the situation. https://t.co/LI5UrlRa9j pic.twitter.com/cK3HNBAlhb
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 5, 2023
Taryn Hatcher of NBC Sports Philadelphia later reported that the fan fell in when reaching for a ball that was tossed his way, but fell into a flower bed.
An update from Citizens Bank Park on what happened with the fan in the Red Sox bullpen in the top of the first inning: pic.twitter.com/SPQdxLl0jM
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) May 5, 2023
As scary as the moment was, disaster seems to have been largely averted.
Later video showed the fan, who appeared to be a young man, as he was carted off of the field. While the fall certainly did its damage, he was conscious and, while there were some obvious bangs and bruises, seemed largely OK.
"You know what? I think that's a very lucky young man. He's talking and all his limbs seem to be working. I mean, it's just scary." pic.twitter.com/MF1fPdF2gW
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 5, 2023
[NBC Sports Philadelphia, Photo Credit: NESN]
