Two cyclists sustained serious injuries after colliding with an almost invisible hazard—kite string—while crossing the Marine Parkway Bridge. Robert Hillebrand, an entrepreneur who runs Freewheelin' Bike Tours, is in the hospital with a severe throat laceration after being struck by the string. According to Gothamist, Hillebrand received blood transfusions and will be unable to work for several months as he remains unable to speak due to the severity of his injuries.
Another victim, Jennifer Noble, a Crown Heights resident, told CBS News about her multiple stitches and a broken finger after the string cut through her upper lip, nose, forehead, and finger.
Despite the NYPD finding no criminality in the incident, there is a concern among cyclists and residents regarding the safety of the bridge. As per Gothamist, kite string is believed to be related to "kite fighting," a practice where participants use strings potentially coated with glass to slice through their opponent's kite strings.
Noble described the string as "really horrifically, dangerously negligent." She continues to experience significant pain and has recently returned to the emergency room due to complications from her injuries. Noble has an appointment with a specialist scheduled for tomorrow, as she suspects there are bone fragments in her finger joint causing the pain, CBS News reports.
Danny Mundy, president of the Broad Channel Civic Association, voiced his frustration regarding the dangerous kite strings which have injured people and animals before in the Jamaica Bay area. Mundy told Gothamist, "It's absolutely dangerous and unacceptable," recalling an incident where his own father sustained lacerations due to kite string. As a result of multiple complaints, the city has taken measures such as posting signs against kite fighting.
The New York City Parks Department has been made aware of the incidents and confirmed that kite fighting is not permitted in city parks. This issue is under investigation, while the dangers of loose kite strings and the sport of kite fighting itself garner more attention. A 2009 lawsuit, as reported by Gothamist, highlighted similar dangers when a 12-year-old boy was severely injured by a fallen string from a kite fight, leading him to require hundreds of stitches. These recent incidents highlight the serious risks associated with what may seem like a common form of play, reinforcing Mundy's warning that "someone is going to get killed" if the issue is not addressed with appropriate urgency.
