An 18-year-old who died during what was supposed to be a fun family memory sacrificed his life to help his mother.
On Wednesday, June 17, Romanch Mahajan, his parents Deepak and Priya, and his little brother took a horse carriage ride in Manhattan’s Central Park amid their visit to the Big Apple from India, according to The New York Times. Disaster ensued when the horse bolted after the carriage driver stopped and got out to take a photo of the family.
“We were yelling, ‘Help me, help me!” Deepak, 44, recalled.
Deepak told the outlet that when his wife, Priya, fell out of the carriage, Romanch jumped down to help her.
“My son, just to save his mother, he fell off,” Deepak said. “He was screaming, ‘Mom!’”
Ron Adar / M10s / MEGA
Romanch then hit his head on the ground and passed away that evening at the hospital. The rest of the family sustained minor injuries, the publication reported.
Transport Workers Union Local 100 vice president Alexander Kemp said the horse was seven years old and had just begun carriage rides in the park six weeks earlier. The horse is OK and will be retired. As for the driver, he has been suspended by the carriage’s owner.
“It appears the driver was at least at arm’s length from his horse,” Kemp said in a statement. “This is unacceptable. A driver is not supposed to leave the carriage to take photos — ever. We support a full investigation.”
Ron Adar / M10s / MEGA
For many years, animal rights activists have been vocal about the dangers of horse carriages to both the horses’ well-being and people’s. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani appears to be on board with stopping the dangerous activity.
“I look forward to working with City Council, union partners, carriage drivers, animal welfare advocates and community leaders to deliver a just transition that protects workers while ending horse-drawn carriages in Central Park once and for all,” Mamdani, 34, remarked in a statement on Wednesday.
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