Stricter Rules To Avoid Repeat Of Vietnam Kite Festival Tragedy That Sent 5-Year-Old Boy 65 Feet In The Air, Then Plummeted To Death

A tragedy struck the recent Vietnam Kite Festival in Vung Tau when five-year-old Van Min Dath’s leg was caught in a giant kite’s string that flew him 65 feet up in the air. He then plummeted to his death.

Elitereaders reports that the boy didn’t come to fly kites but to help his mother who sells drinks to flyers and spectators. Just as the Saigon Kite Club members launched a giant red kite, Van Min ran toward it to pick up empty soft drinks bottles.

Unfortunately, his leg got tangled in the kite’s string that pulled him up to the sky. Prior to the incident, the big kit had fallen to the ground a number of times due to the erratic weather, so all eyes were on him.

One of the strings snapped, causing Van Min to fall. He tried to grab one of the other strings but failed, causing him to fall to the ground, while his mother and horrified watchers could only scream in frustration because they could do nothing to help him.

He was still alive when Van Min fell to the ground. The boy was rushed to the hospital but he died.

Vietnamese authorities are investigating the accident. The incident, which happened in mid March, elicited admission from representatives of competent agencies and kite groups about the loopholes on safety issues and administration of kite flying.

Tuoi Tri points out that on an ordinary day, about 10 kites of different sizes are tangled in electricity wires above National Highway 22 and Ba Trieu Street in Hoc Mon District. To avoid a repeat of what happened to the five-year-old boy, an official of the 2014 Ho Chi Minh City Art Kite Flying Festival said that kids with no adult companions would be gathered by the organisers.

To contact the writer, email: v.hernandez@ibtimes.com.au