Father tells of desperate chase after inflatable

A FATHER whose daughter died after a bouncy castle blew “30 to 50ft in the air” with her in it told a court how he desperately chased after the inflatable.

Summer Grant ( above), seven, had been enjoying a family day out at an Easter fair at Harlow Town Park in Essex when the bouncy castle was blown away, a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court was told.

She was taken to hospital but died from her injuries.

Fairground worker William Thurston, 29, and his wife Shelby Thurston, 26, both of Wilburton, Cambs, deny manslaughter by gross negligence and a health and safety offence.

Disaster

Summer’s father Lee Grant told the court he was at the fair with his two daughters Summer and Lily, who was five years old at the time.

He said disaster struck when Summer went on a bouncy castle.

“I just heard my mum scream ‘no’ and within seconds it blew away,” said Mr Grant. “I just saw some sort of cable flying in the air and it just blew away.

“I started running after the bouncy castle down the field.”

He continued: “It was 30 to 50ft in the air and just rolling down the field, just rolling and rolling.

“I think it hit a tree. At the end of the field, it came to a halt when it hit the fence.”

The trial continues.