The Vessel in NYC closed after 3rd suicide at tourist attraction

The centerpiece sculpture at a massive development on Manhattan's west side has been closed to the public, and the developer is looking at suicide prevention efforts after three deaths in the past year. The Vessel, a 150-foot-high sculpture in the shape of an inverted beehive made up of stairways and platforms in the Hudson Yards development that opened in March 2019, has been the site of three suicides, the most recent of which was on Monday.

CBS New York reported that Related Companies says they have added extra security. That includes highly trained personnel who patrol the area and can identify potentially high-risk visitors.

Lowell Kern, the chairman of the local community board, told the New York Times that a Related representative told him the sculpture was closed until further notice, and that the board would be informed of preventative measures that would be taken before the Vessel was re-opened to the public.

The Vessel was created by British designer Thomas Heatherwick.

Need help? Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255). Individuals can also go to: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now and veterans can go to woundedwarriorproject.org or call the project's resource center at: 888-997-2586.