Kite string rips through clothes and bag strap, nearly strangles motorcyclist on KL highway
The July 20 accident left the motorcyclist with a neck injury (left) and ripped clothes (right).
PHOTO: Facebook/Lim Lip Eng
PUBLISHED ONJuly 22, 2025 3:58 AMBYLim KeweiA motorcyclist travelling on a highway in Kuala Lumpur had a close brush with death after becoming ensnarled in a line of kite string on Sunday (July 20).
Muhammad Faris Rosaidee, 27, told Malaysian media outlet Harian Metro that he had felt something brushing his body and moving up until it wrapped around his neck.
"I was wearing three layers of clothing — a jacket, a shirt, and I had a backpack. All three were torn, and it scraped the skin on my shoulder slightly," he said.
Faris said he was unable to stop along the highway and could only slow down and wait for the string to snap.
Local politician Lim Lip Eng shared on Facebook a video that the motorcyclist had filmed after the incident.
The clip shows a kite stuck on a streetlight along the highway, and another kite being flown nearby. The camera then pans to Faris, who points to a strip of raw skin on his neck.
He then shows his ripped shirt and outerwear as well as the strap of his backpack, which has been sliced through.
Lim said in his post that flying kites near highways is "reckless and dangerous", and that he has asked authorities to re-evaluate the areas where kite-flying is permitted.
Faris also told Harian Metro that he was wearing a face and neck covering at the time of the incident, which likely reduced his injury.
"The doctor said it only affected the outermost layer of skin, like a burn... there was no bleeding, and I've already been to a nearby clinic for treatment," he explained.
KL Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa confirmed the incident on Monday and said the victim had suffered rope friction burns to his neck, reported Bernama.
The incident is being investigated for possible road offences.
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