It was still dark, 6.40, southeast corner, close to ice skating rim. He was half leaning against a light, half lying there on the other side of the road and crying. At first I thought he was mentally disabled as he made strange sounds and lay there oddly bent. Short Latino guy in regular (=non work-out) clothes. A group of runners was standing 50 yrds down the road looking in my direction. I carefully approached him and asked if he is ok. Only then I saw what appeared to be a knife sticking in his tummy. Not pretty. I was still cautious as it could have been a fake. I wondered why the other people kept distance. I couldn’t see any blood but it was still dark and he had enough clothes on to potentially cover such. He didn’t reply to me but just kept crying and whining. It was immediately clear that it wasn’t a fake.
Then a group of cyclists stopped, unfortunately no medics. One spoke Spanish to him but he was unable to reply with a sentence.
Apparently the runners called for help from one of the many fixed phones down the road.
The article says that he stabbed himself. Not sure why they think so.
Later there were helicopters circling the park and some NYPD cars. Given that the incident must have happened about 30mins. beforehand, you kinda wonder what that would help… It’s probably to give people comfort and a feel of security. Some spend thousands to CP each year to make it a safe and fun place.
Were you also there?
They were just scared. I understand that. I kept a safeish distance myself. But they did not know what had happened either. I spoke to them.
Why would I not have mentioned that?
I am not sure if it is actually true that he stabbed himself. People make quick assumptions, especially after that terrible incident last week on east river when a woman was almost killed by a guy at Sunday afternoon who apparently was mentally disabled. That, of course was my first thought when I saw the poor guy this morning.
I ran past the Rink around 6pm last night; about 40 min prior to you. I did not see anything at that time but did see at least 3 police cars pass by me between 110 and 80th street. CP is not the safest place in the world but i think they do a pretty good job keeping it as safe as possible; sometimes you just can’t stop all the crazy people in the world.
I am sorry to hear about this incidnet but am glad to hear that no bystanders where injured/attached (if in fact the guy stabbed himself and was not stabbed by someone else). People always wonder why i run with a head lamp in CP when the road has street lights, my response is because the woods don’t have lights. Keep the music low, the light on high and your head on a swivel.
Good for you for actually stopping to help someone in need; we all need to realize that we could be that person in need one day and will hope that someone like you will actually stop to help. Thanks.
I did not see anything at that time but did see at least 3 police cars pass by me between 110 and 80th street.
Brian
Thanks Brian.
I also noted some more NYPD presence recently. Maybe because of the Harlem hill incident pre xmas (guy got smacked by a chain from some kid) and the terrible one just last Sunday on East River.
Surely safer but common sense is that anything from 6am to 8pm is fine. Loads of people working out early mroning and btw 6 and 8pm.
I never ran before 5.30 in the park but my guess would be that criminals sleep early morning.
I ran two big loops in CP this morning starting at around 10:00am. No signs of anything. That’s NYC for you. A few hours passed and everything back to normal.
I rarely use the Park in the dark. I am pretty lucky having the work schedule that allows me to bike and run at random times during the daylight. I never worry about anything other than things like a nanny pushing a stroller across the Drive against the light while talking on her cellphone. Happens every two or three rides, but other than that, it is very safe during the day.
I never worry about anything other than things like a nanny pushing a stroller across the Drive against the light while talking on her cellphone. Happens every two or three rides, but other than that, it is very safe during the day.
David
Althoug I have a fairly limited experience so far, my guess would be that strollers are actually more dangerous than anything else out there.
Morning crowds are mostly very disciplined.
A mentally ill person can cause trouble 24/7 (see that guy on East River last Sunday afternoon)…
that is a messed up situation. I travel to NYC about 10 times a year for business and thankfully only stay a day or two at a time. Why anyone would want to live in that shit hole or even worse raise a family there escapes me. It is a 24x7 freak show.
Wow, that is the most ridiculous post I have ever read. Get a life. Better yet, next time you are here, PM me, and I will show you around, do a run or ride with you and share some of the great things this city has to offer.
I spend a lot of time there, haven’t seen any stabbings yet!
that is a messed up situation. I travel to NYC about 10 times a year for business and thankfully only stay a day or two at a time. Why anyone would want to live in that shit hole or even worse raise a family there escapes me. It is a 24x7 freak show.
The city has many great things, entertainment, food, arts, etc just to name a few are all top notch no doubt about that. As are those same things in Vegas and San Fran and I would not want to live or raise a family in those places either. The freak factor is just too high for what i find to be acceptable. As far as training there, that also lacks appeal to me as well Countless loops around central park is not what i would call interesting cycling and a OWS in the East or Hudson Rivers would be toxic. Running through Times Square and hurdling the countless sleeping homeless people napping on the streets would be a good workout though.
The city has many great things, entertainment, food, arts, etc just to name a few are all top notch no doubt about that. As are those same things in Vegas and San Fran and I would not want to live or raise a family in those places either. The freak factor is just too high for what i find to be acceptable. As far as training there, that also lacks appeal to me as well Countless loops around central park is not what i would call interesting cycling and a OWS in the East or Hudson Rivers would be toxic. Running through Times Square and hurdling the countless sleeping homeless people napping on the streets would be a good workout though.
That is a lot of ignorance wrapped up in a short post.
Central Park is an awesome training venue given that it is in the middle of an enormous city. 6 miles of untrafficed pavement make for a great mid-week training playground. Weekends, and when you have more then an hour or so to ride, the roads out of NYC are surprisingly decent.
