Girl dies after jumping castle ‘explodes’ in the UK

[Ulquiorra]

A YOUNG girl has died after being thrown from a jumping castle which reportedly “exploded” on a packed beach in the UK.

Horrified eyewitnesses on Great Yarmouth’s Gorleston Beach claimed the inflatable sent the child flying “20 feet into the air” when it burst yesterday, reports The Sun.

Reports on social media claimed the jumping castle “exploded” in the 21 degree heat.

Heartbreaking tributes including teddy bears have been left at the police cordon around the Bounce About play area.

Members of the public and paramedics tried desperately to resuscitate the girl at the scene.

Witness Kara Longshaw said: “Just seen the most horrific thing in my life. A jumping castle exploded at the beach and the child on it was catapulted about 20ft into the air.

“Please say a prayer for the four-year-old being rushed to hospital after 15 minutes of CPR.”

Karen Sell, who was leaving the beach at the time, said: “I was walking away from the beach and I heard the most enormous bang and straight away turned round.

“I was at the top of the stairs near the cliff that overlooks the beach and people were all there and everyone was in shock.

“I spoke to someone who described how the girl was just thrown about 20ft into the air and landed on the floor

“It was just terrible. A man was giving the girl CPR for quite a while before they took her hospital.

“The bouncy castle was not like one I have seen before — it was like a trampoline so you could jump a lot higher on it than a normal one. It is such a sad situation.”

Kayla-Ann Weaver, who was sitting only metres away from the accident, said: “I cannot believe what I just witnessed on Gorleston beach.

“Never ever will I let my girls on a bouncy castle ever. My thoughts are with the little girl’s family.

“I was right next to it the girls wanted to go on it I said no. I was sat next to it behind the barrier and I just heard a big bang and I turn around and a little girl in pink flew up and back down.

“They did CPR on her straight away. She looked a lot younger than four years old.

“It is terrible. Cherish every moment you never know what could happen in a blink of an eye.”

Brad Pewter, 23, a supervisor at the nearby Porterhouse restaurant, said: “The supervisor who was here in the morning was on the rooftop setting up for the morning when she heard a pop.”

“She ran over to see what she could do. She told me that this poor young girl had been propelled into the air. It was horrific.

“She was so shocked by what she had seen that she to go home early. It is just a horrible thing.”

The young patient was rushed to the James Paget Hospital “in a serious medical condition”, but died shortly after arrival.

Police have not yet confirmed the explosion.

Brandon Lewis, Conservative MP for Great Yarmouth, tweeted: “Absolutely tragic, thoughts are with family & friends, just so sad.”

The inflatable was part of the Bounce About play area whose website showed a large square castle as well as an inflatable slide.

Text on the family-run business’s site reads: “Defy gravity and Bounce About on our trampolines or dare to climb the massive inflatable slide, dare to ride the rodeo bull or put the kids to play on the massive inflatable funcity and relax in our deckchairs while the children play.”

Sophia Kapoor, 17, who works at Jay Jay’s ice cream kiosk opposite Bounce About didn’t realise anything had happened until she heard the police and ambulance sirens.

“We had an ambulance, a paramedic car and four police cars. The police and paramedics ran down the slope and the next thing it was all cordoned off.”

“We then saw the little girl being taken on a stretcher into the back of the ambulance.

“Two adult men were also limping after it happened and were supported by paramedics.

“People who were on the beach said the girl had just been jumping when the thing burst and she was thrown into the air.

“Some people said it was a really loud bang and others though it was more of a pop.”

A Norfolk Police spokesman confirmed the child had sadly died following the incident.

“Officers were called to Lower Esplanade around 11.15am following reports a child had been thrown from a bouncy castle,” the spokesman said.

“The young girl was taken to the James Paget Hospital; however sadly died.

“Next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

“A joint investigation between the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), local authority and police has been launched to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and a police cordon has been put in place at the scene while inquiries continue.”

He said more than a dozen calls were received at just after 11am, and several people at the scene including the Royal National Lifeboat Institution were providing assistance to the little girl.

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 the young patient, and did everything possible to give her treatment and care. Our thoughts are with the family at this time.”