A Lowell House sophomore was in critical but stable condition last night after falling three stories from a Claverly Hall fire escape before a crowd of approximately 250 onlookers.

Theodore P. Klupinski '95 was in the surgical intensive care unit at Boston's Beth Israel Hospital following more than three hours of neurosurgery.

Witnesses said he fell through a ladder hole and hit the second story landing directly below him before fracturing his skull on the sidewalk. He had stepped out onto his room's fire escape to watch comedian Billy Crystal receive an award on the steps of the Lampoon Castle.

The audience of several hundred that had gathered nearby to see Crystal watched as students and paramedics treated Klupinski. The accident, which occurred at about 4:30 p.m., stunned the crowd and marred the afternoon's festivities.

Four students administered first aid to the stricken sophomore before paramedics from the Cambridge Fire Department arrived and transported him to the hospital.

"We were just taking his pulse and trying to see if we would have to revive him," said Eric R. Greenhut '96, one of the first students to reach Klupinski's side. "He drifted back and forth [out of consciousness]."

Klupinski, 19, underwent just over three hours of surgery to assess the extent of his head injuries and was transferred to the intensive care unit at about 11:15 p.m., according to hospital spokesperson Lori Veno.

"They don't expect any changes overnight," Veno said.

William M. Cook '95, who was on the landing just before the accident, said Klupinski did not see the hole in the fire escape. "From where he was it was not obvious there was a hole there," he said.

"I remember being in the room and I heard this sickening thud when he hit the ground," said roommate Roel R. Torres '95. "I thought maybe it was just his binoculars falling. I heard Bill gasping and I just looked down and he wasn't moving and he wasn't conscious. I was just really scared that he was dead."

"He came down and hit the first balcony and then hit the ground pretty badly," said Greenhut. "He hit his head pretty hard."

Torres said Klupinski's father hap- pened to be walking by the building and saw hisson's crumpled body moments after the fall.Klupinski, a chemistry concentrator, arrived inCambridge yesterday, and his father was helpinghim move in.

"He had just turned the corner [from Mt. AuburnStreet] onto Linden Street when he saw Ted on theground and originally thought it was a fallenbiker," Torres said. "He was just in shock when heheard everyone gasping...and he realized it wasTed."

Harvard President Neil L. Rudenstine, Dean ofthe College L. Fred Jewett '57 and Lowell HouseMaster William H. Bossert visited the hospital tocomfort the student's father and to speak todoctors.

Bossert and Lowell House Senior Tutor AlexandraL. Barcus visited Klupinski's dormitory room lastnight and spoke with his room-mates, Cook said.

"It's very shocking thing for the community,and it will take a while for people to cope withsome of the feelings," Barcus said. "All of us arethinking about Ted tonight."