Boy, 5, dies after wind gust blows bouncy castle ’15 to 20 feet’ in air
A five-year-old boy has died after a gust of wind blew the bouncy castle he was playing on into the air.
Emergency services were called to Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf,Maryland, after the vessel was lifted ’15 to 20 feet’ into the air with multiple children inside.
Several children fell to the ground before the inflatable, which was set up to entertain kids during Southern Maryland Blue Crabs games, landed on the baseball field.
It is not clear whether the castle was secured to the ground, or how many children were in it at the time of the incident, reported the Washington Post.
State Police flew two children from the scene to Children’s National Hospital in Washington DC.
The 5-year-old boy, who has not been named, was later pronounced dead.
The second child, whose identity has also not been shared, was left with non-life-threatening injuries.
Charles County local government said first responders were present at the stadium for the game, so were able to care for patients within minutes of the incident.
Local government commissioner president Reuben Collins said: ‘We extend our deepest empathy to the children and their families during this difficult time.
‘We thank our EMS team and the Maryland State Police for their swift actions to ensure the children received immediate care.’
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs cancelled all of their games on Saturday, August 3.
The team’s general manager, Courtney Knichel, said in a statement: ‘Our entire organization shares our condolences with the family mourning the loss of a child, and concern for the child who was injured.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with them all.’
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