The little girl thrown to her death from bouncy castle
THIS is the little girl killed when an inflatable beach trampoline exploded, flinging her 20ft into the air.
family they close Three- Her paid mother by told into on year- tribute Sunday of the Chloe their old sand to Littleboy, as heartbreak their Ava- her on ‘little May daughter Gorleston 25, angel’. last Littleboy’s was was night standing beach, catapulted as Norfolk, been One standing witness by the told in air-filled the how hot strangers weather trampoline for tried hours. – which in vain had to catch ground. Ava-May Beach-goers before said she her crashed mother down screamed to the in terror and could only watch as a lifeguard and paramedics tried to revive her.
Ava-May, from Somersham, Suffolk, reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest and died later in James Paget Hospital in Gorleston.
Yesterday, as an MP called for a ban on bouncy castles, Ava-May’s family paid tribute to her. In a statement released by the police, they said: ‘ She was not your ordinary little girl, as anyone she met, she would leave a lasting impression on.
‘Her infectious laugh and smile could light up even the darkest of rooms. She was the little girl that loved life.’
One of Ava-May’s aunts, Laura Reid, 28, wrote on Facebook: ‘I will love you always and forever. Sleep tight my little angel.’
Police and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating why the trampoline ‘exploded’.
Gorleston beach, three miles from Great Yarmouth, was packed with families enjoying the 23C (73F) temperatures.
Flowers and teddies were yesterday being laid at the scene. A 91- year-old the air – said: easily man ‘She more who shot saw than way what 20ft up – happened into and landed in the sand. The mother ran up screaming and crying for help. People acted together. ‘The explosion was like a big gun. I was in the Navy and I can tell you it was an enormous bang.’ Zoe Dye, 32, who was 60ft away with her 11-year-old daughter Tiffany, added: ‘There were screams from everyone on the beach and it was almost like slow motion.’ She added: ‘ When the little girl was in the air, no one could have done anything. People jumped up to try and catch her but she just dropped.’ Superintendent Roger Wiltshire, from Norfolk Police, said: ‘ My understanding is that the mother had a conversation with the stallholder and the child went on the equipment. The trampoline was designed just for one person to use and she was the only person there at the time.’
He added: ‘As far as I understand her mother was watching nearby. I am a dad myself and I cannot imagine what the family are going through. You go to a place like Gorleston for a day out and then this happens.’
The trampoline was one of several inflatable rides in an area of the beach called Bounce About. Attraction owner Curt Johnson, 47, who was not present at the time, speculated yesterday that the heat caused the inflatable to explode. He said: ‘We are in complete shock and send our deepest condolences to the family.
‘We are in bits and totally devastated. We can’t sleep, can’t eat and feel sick to the core.’
Ava-May is believed to have attended Bramford Playgroup, near Ipswich, which closed early yesterday as staff and children came to terms with her loss.
Tracie Heffer, manager of Bramford and District Social Club, said: ‘It’s a terrible tragedy. It’s a very close community.’
Ava-May’s death follows the jailing last month of a couple whose failure to properly tie down a bouncy castle in high winds led to the death of seven-year- old Summer Grant.
Yesterday Summer’s grandmother Rachel Chamberlain said: for this ‘I this Things family. Harlow where tweeted: ‘ Tory My hoped would Summer MP Devastating.’ heart must constituency ‘After with Robert never change. bleeds two all was happen my Halfon, horrific killed in heart Essex in whose again. tragedies, 2016, that is update regime Government ban of regulations on and bouncy consider need and castles to inspection look a temporary at in public that they areas are until safe. we can be sure injuries ‘There and have fatalities been a over number the last of few years and the regulations haven’t been updated for an incredibly long time.’ The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said of Ava-May: ‘It is a terrible accident and a tragic loss of life. HSE are looking into it – they are the right people to do so. We need to wait for that investigation to be completed.’
‘The mother ran screaming’