New York’s Vessel attraction closes again after another suicide

The Vessel tourist attraction in New York City closed after another suicide on Thursday, about two months after it reopened after a closure caused by similar deaths.

One person died by suicide on the 150-foot spiral staircase Thursday afternoon, according to the New York Police Department. The structure in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards closed in January after three similar deaths occurred at its premises, when operators said they would speak with suicide prevention experts to implement new measures to security.

Stephen Ross, the developer who built the Hudson Yards complex, told NBC News in a statement, “It’s hard to really understand how something like this could happen.”

“But I feel bad for the family,” Ross said. “I want to explore all possible possibilities, but for now the ship is closed.”

In an interview with The Daily Beast, Ross said he was discussing the final closure of the ship.

The ship reopened at the end of May with new guidelines that guests were no longer allowed to enter alone, The New York Times reported at the time. Staff were also trained to detect if guests could act in a way that indicated they might be considering self-harm.

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But critics were skeptical that new rules would be a better prevention tactic than simply raising barriers along the aisles.

“The only way to prevent future tragedies is to raise the height of the barriers,” Lowell D. Kern, chairman of the local community council, told The Times in May.

Hudson Yards spokeswoman Kimberly Winston said Thursday’s death was under investigation and the ship was closed to visitors.

“We are heartbroken by this tragedy and our hearts go out to the family of the young man who lost his life,” said Winston.

The ship opened to the public in 2019, offering residents and tourists alike views of western Manhattan and the Hudson River. It was designed by Thomas Heatherwick and the Heatherwick Studio and was initially free to the public, but now guests over 5 are charged $ 10 after the ship’s first hour of opening.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME at 741741, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.