New York attraction shuts after fourth deadly fall
New York: An art installation built by the British designer Thomas Heatherwick has closed indefinitely after a 14-year-old boy leapt to his death last week.
It was the fourth suicide at The Vessel, a 150ft (45 metres)-high west Manhattan tourist attraction, in less than two years.
The structure was opened in March 2019 as part of a redevelopment at Hudson Yards on the fringes of New York City’s garment district.
The Vessel sculpture, by Thomas Heatherwick, at Hudson Yards, on the right. Credit:Bloomberg
The Vessel, which cost at least $US150 million (£108 million), has a honeycomb structure and offers sweeping views of the Hudson River.
In February 2020, less than a year after it opened, a 19-year-old from New Jersey leapt to his death. The following winter, in two separate incidents, a 24-year-old woman and 21-year-old man also died jumping from the structure.
The Vessel under construction. in 2019.Credit:Bloomberg
The Vessel shut for four months following the third suicide and reopened with new safety measures.
Lone visitors were banned; a $US10 entry fee was imposed by Hudson Yards’ owner, Related Companies; suicide prevention messages were posted at the entrance; and extra security staff were hired to stand on the walkways look out for any signs of distress.
But the teenager who jumped from the eighth storey last week was in a group of five and the party was unable to stop him.
Advertisement“We thought we did everything that would really prevent this,†said Stephen Ross, the chairman of Related Companies.
“It’s hard to really fathom how something like that could happen. But you know, I feel terrible for the family.â€
He said that The Vessel would be shut indefinitely while the company considered further safety measures.
The company’s failure to install higher barriers drew criticism over the weekend, including from an employee of Heatherwick Studio, which designed installation, who said: “We designed safety barriers for The Vessel a while back. It’s time to install these.â€
Telegraph, London
Crisis support is available from Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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