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[UPDATE] Falling Tree Branch Injures Woman In Central Park
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 11, 2013
Modified Jun 11, 2013
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By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 11, 2013
Modified Jun 11, 2013
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[UPDATE BELOW] An unidentified woman was hospitalized after being struck by a falling tree branch at 86th Street near Central Park West this afternoon. According to the FDNY, the incident happened shortly after 3:30 p.m. The victim was taken to St. Luke's hospital with unspecified injuries—a FDNY spokesperson could only tell us that she was in "trauma." We'll update as more information becomes available.
These types of incidents are not uncommon in city parks, and can be extremely serious. In 2010, a six-month-old baby was killed by a falling tree branch near the Central Park Zoo; this happened a month after three people were injured by a tree branch that fell on them near the Central Park Boathouse. In February 2010, a man was killed by a falling tree branch at East 69th and Fifth Avenue in Central Park, and six months earlier, a Google engineer suffered long-term brain and spinal injuries after a rotten tree branch hit him near West Drive and 63rd Street.
Update 5:40 p.m.: One witness who tried to help the victim emailed to share what he saw:
There was a sudden strong gust of wind. I heard and saw a tree branch crack then fall. Heard someone crying. Approached. Woman was on the ground with a man (assume husband) leaning over her and helping her. Several others were already there and calling 911. Helped the man open an umbrella. Held the umbrella over her head (it was raining a little). Gave the man a compress and he held it to her head (he was using his hand before). Gave him my shirt that he folded up and placed under her head. Waited for police and ambulance to arrive.
She was conscious and speaking with the man I assumed to be her husband. I saw the branch fall, but didn't see where it hit her. I heard someone say that the branch knocked her to the ground and she fall face first to the paved walkway. I believe she had a cut to her head and damage to a tooth, possibly lost a tooth. The man asked her to remain on the ground while he applied pressure to the wound on her head and they waited for the ambulance.
An FDNY spokesman tells us the woman is currently in serious condition.
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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