Five children were killed and several seriously injured Thursday when a bouncy castle was blown into the air by a gust of wind that rose 33 feet (10 meters) into the air during an end-of-year school party in Australia.
Five children die after falling from bouncy castle that rose 10 meters
“Sadly I can confirm that four children have died, four are in critical condition and one is in a serious condition,” Tasmanian island police, quoted by AFP, said in an initial report.
They later confirmed the death of a fifth minor who remained in hospital and was in critical condition.
“Nine Year 5/6 pupils at Hillcrest Primary School fell from a height of around 10 meters after a major local wind event blew a bouncy castle and several inflatable balls into the air at around 10am,” police said in a statement.
Among the five children killed are two girls and two boys; the sex of the youngest, who died later in hospital, is unknown. Four other children remain in the hospital with serious injuries. Typically, sixth graders are between 10 and 12 years old.
Tasmania Police Commander Debbie Williams explained that “a gust of wind apparently blew a bouncy castle into the air. Several children fell from the bouncy castle from a height of approximately 33 feet.”
Local media showed images of police officers crying in front of the blue tarps that concealed what Williams described as “a very shocking and distressing scene.”
