Ever fancied flying a kite on a lovely summer afternoon?
What could be a more relaxing way of whiling away a few hours in the sunshine?
Well maybe you should think again!
“Let’s go fly a kite” was a song in MARY POPPINS so you could be lulled into false security believing that this would be a safe pastime but nothing could be further from the truth after it emerged that hundreds of kite enthusiasts were injured whilst taking part in an international kite festival in the western state of GUJARAT in India.
Indeed 6 people, including 3 children, were killed after illegally made kite strings wrapped around their necks and slit their throats.
Worse still the children who died were not even taking part in the event.
It seems that many of the participants were using Chinese made nylon kite strings coated with powdered glass which were being sold illegally by at least 200 vendors.
Police have since recovered as many as 10,269 Chinese spools of the dangerous material.
A number of people were attempting to get increased wind in their kite sails by riding on motorised scooters, or motorbikes, only to become entangled in the cords and ending up being strangled or worse.
A further 46 people were injured after falling off roofs whilst flying kites during the festival.
We maintained our trip into the skies this afternoon as the subject chosen today by Margaret Mills concerned the First World War Aerodrome at Stowmaries, and the incredible 19-year old commander in charge at the time, Lt Claude Ridley.
Listen again here to what Margaret told me about this amazing place and the men who flew from here: –
I look forward to the pleasure of your company next week,
Scott
