TOT KILLED BY EXPLODING TRAMPOLINE
Girl, 4, thrown 30ft in the air after ‘summer heat’ caused blast on attraction
A LITTLE girl died yesterday while playing on an inflatable trampoline that exploded in the searing heat.
The child, believed to be four, was thrown 30ft into the air before landing on the sand at Gorleston Beach in Norfolk.
A witness said: “This is the most horrific thing I have seen.”
WITNESSES have told of the horrific moment a young girl was killed after being thrown from an inflatable trampoline that exploded in the heat.
The child, believed to be four, was hurled 30ft in the air yesterday before crashing down on the sand at a beach packed with revellers soaking up the sun.
A lifeguard and paramedics battled to save the youngster but she died in hospital.
The owner of the 10m x 4m apparatus said he believed the intense heat caused the explosion.
Witness Kayla-Ann Weaver posted on Facebook: “I’m sat next to the bouncy castle, it’s just popped.
“A little girl just flew up in the sky and straight back down. I can’t believe it.
“I was next to it behind the barrier and just heard a big bang, turn around and saw little girl in pink flew up and back down.
“They done CPR on her straight away. It’s so sad. I’m just sat here in shock.”
Kenna Cracknell added: “The bouncy castle opposite me exploded with a little girl no older than four being catapulted around 30ft in the air and come straight back down on the sand.
“After 20 minutes of CPR by the ambulance she was taken and still not alive. This has to be the most horrific thing I have ever witnessed.”
Kara Longshaw posted on social media:
“Just seen the most horrific thing in my life. A bouncy castle exploded at the beach and the child on it was catapulted about 20ft into the air.
“Totally heartbroken to hear that the little girl didn’t make it. Thoughts and prayers go out to her family.”
Karen Sell said: “It was terrible. The bouncy castle was not like one I have seen. It was like a trampoline so you could jump a lot higher on it.”
Sarah Allard added: “We were sat down and heard a very loud bang. I wasn’t sure if it was a car crash.
“By the time we looked around my sister saw the little girl hit the floor. It somehow exploded on the beach.”
Ice cream kiosk worker Sophia Kapoor, 17, also saw the tragedy at 11.15am on Gorleston Beach in Norfolk.
She added: “Two adult men were also
It is very upsetting. We have been at the beach a very long time and this is the first accident CURT JOHNSON OWNER OF THE INFLATABLE TRAMPOLINE APPARATUS
limping after it happened.” The attraction’s owner Curt Johnson, 48, said: “It is very upsetting. An inflatable trampoline exploded because of the heat and that is all I know.
“We have been at the beach for a very long time and it is the first accident we have had there. It is quite shocking.”
The girl’s family, believed to have been holidaying in the area, are being supported by specialist officers.
She was taken to James Paget Hospital. The East of England Ambulance Service said: “Sadly, despite all the of the efforts and interventions, she was pronounced deceased.
“We would like to thank everyone who rushed to respond to the young patient and did everything possible to give her treatment and care.”
An area containing the trampoline and other inflatables was yesterday cordoned off. Norfolk Police, the Health and Safety Executive and local council are investigating the tragedy.
In March 2016, seven-year-old Summer Grant was killed after a bouncy castle she was playing on blew away in strong winds at Harlow, Essex.
Fairground workers William Thurston, 29, and wife Shelby, 26, were each jailed for three years for manslaughter by gross negligence.