Bomb squad rush to New York’s Central Park after man injured in explosion
A witness claimed the man was climbing on a rock structure when he stepped on something that 'exploded'
A MAN has been critically injured in an explosion in New York's Central Park today after he stepped on something that "exploded" during the busy holiday weekend.
The victim was said to have been climbing on a rock structure when there was a detonation.
According to local media reports, the park is now closed and in the process of being evacuated.
The victim was facing a "possible amputation", though it was not clear what caused the blast.
Current reports suggest the victim suffered an injury to his leg, and was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan.
Three young men from Washington D.C. are believed to have been involved in the incident.
One of the men told: "I don't know what happened. I don't know what happened", immediately after the incident.
Speaking to New York Daily News, witness John Murphy said he tried to keep the young man conscious following the blast.
He described the scene: "I saw his friends standing there panicking. I saw the young man laying on the grass. His foot is all but gone.
"His friends claimed he was walking down the rocks and he stepped on it."
The blast was close to a funeral for Holocaust survivor and Nobel winner Eli Wiesel was taking place on Sunday morning local time.
Speaking to , a witness said the man was walking on a rock when something exploded.
New York Times journalist Sarah Maslin Nir described the scene in a tweet: "Outside Eli Wiesel's funeral I heard a huge explosion just now.
"Running into Central Park and found a young man with his left leg blown off.
She later continued: "The young man is safely on his way to hospital.
"No official word as to what transpired.
"His friends said he was walking&stepped on something.
"Possible fireworks accident or other cause, no word on cause as this happened moments ago."
Another witness, Sara Gordon, 27, said: "His left foot looked severed.
"It was very graphic. It sounded like a cannon."
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The New York Police Department and New York City Fire Department responded to the incident after a call came in at 10:53am local time.
The blast occurred near Fifth Avenue and East 62nd Street area.
