Through the years, bounce houses have been popular attractions for kids at birthday parties, local festivals, and other events. Children can have fun burning energy on a temporary structure that can easily be torn down and stored. It's a win-win for parents.
When inflatable play structures aren't properly secured, or if strong gusts of wind strike, however, it can be a recipe for disaster. Tragically, a 5-year-old recently died when a bounce house went airborne. The terrifying incident happened at a professional baseball game.
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The bounce house went airborne at a Southern Maryland Blue Crabs baseball game.
A group of kids was inside an inflatable structure at a Southern Maryland Blue Crabs baseball game on August 2. A gust of wind caused the bounce house to go airborne "approximately 15 to 20 feet" high, according to a Charles County news release. This caused "children to fall before it landed on the playing field."
A 5-year-old boy from La Plata, Maryland, died from injuries received when he fell from the bounce house.
A boy from La Plata, Maryland, 5, received "life-threatening injuries during the accident. He was reportedly airlifted to a children's hospital. Sadly, the boy was later pronounced dead.
Another child was also injured.
The boy who died was not the only person injured during the bounce house accident. A second child who suffered "non-life-threatening injuries" also was treated. The child was flown out for medical care.
More from CafeMom: See the Shocking Video of Runaway Bouncy House That Narrowly Missed Hitting 5-Year-Old Boy
Reportedly, the inflatable play structure was secured by stakes.
Witnesses told NBC Washington that the bounce house had been secured by stakes before going airborne.
“Charles County EMS personnel, who were already stationed at the stadium for the game, along with trainers from the baseball team and several Volunteer first responders who were in attendance, swiftly began patient care within minutes of the incident,” the Charles County news release stated.
The Blue Crabs general manager released a statement.
The Blue Crabs game scheduled for August 3 was canceled in the wake of what happened, and counseling was offered to players, fans and families who were at the August 2 game.
“[O]ur entire organization shares our condolences with the family mourning the loss of a child, and concern for the child who was injured," Courtney Knichel, general manager of the team, shared in a statement, per NBC Washington. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them all.”
