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.
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."
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."
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.