Cavite content creator dragged by kite amid strong winds

A content creator from Tanza, Cavite was dragged several meters by a kite he was testing amid strong winds brought by the approaching Typhoon Uwan.

According to Mark Salazar's report on 24 Oras, Darril Salgado said he only wanted to check the strength of one of his handmade kites when he decided to fly it.

At the time, the weather in their area seemed calm.

"Wala naman po noong time na 'yon na kulog tsaka kidlat at malayo din po kami sa bahayan kaya ginawa po namin," Darril said.

Moments after releasing the kite, however, Darril struggled to control it as wind gusts intensified.

"Sobrang sakit na rin po no'n sa kamay," he said. "Nag-decide po ako na pumunta po sa gilid kasi balak ko na po talaga na itali po sa puno 'yung mismong saranggola."

But before he could secure it, he slipped and was dragged across the ground by the force of the wind.

"Dire-diretso po ako, 'yung paghatak po sa akin ng saranggola. Pinipilit ko po talagang bumangon. No'ng time na 'yon, 'di po talaga ako makabangon," he said.

Darril admitted he hesitated to let go of the string since the kite was expensive and difficult to replace.

"Kapag nabitawan, malayo-layo po 'yung hahabulin namin. Medyo may kamahalan din po kasi 'yung saranggola namin," he said.

It took five people before they were finally able to pull the kite down safely and Darril sustained scrapes on his knees and thighs from the incident.

Safety practitioner Jhune Tolentino reminded the public not to fly kites during bad weather, saying it poses serious dangers such as electrocution or fall-related injuries.

"There are a lot of possibilities na puwedeng mangyari sa atin tulad na ng musculoskeletal injuries. Puwede rin po tayong magkaroon ng mga fall accidents. Of course, electrocution," Tolentino said.

He advised that if a kite becomes too strong to handle, the safest option is to release it.

"Kung ang saranggola ay masyado nang malakas humila, wala na tayong ibang choice kung hindi bitawan ito," he said. —Carby Rose Basina/MGP, GMA Integrated News