Boy, 2, dies after bounce house blows away in strong wind
A two-year-old boy has passed away after being blown into the air while on a bounce house.
On Saturday (April 27) at around 5pm Pinal County Sheriff officials were called to a property located on W. Rosemead Drive and N. Bel Air Road outside of Casa Grande, Arizona to reports of a bounce house having been swept into the air with children still inside.
Pinal County Sheriff's Office reports 'several children were playing in' the inflatable play area when 'a strong gust of wind sent it airborne into a neighboring lot'.
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The police release reports a two-year-old child was rushed to hospital but sadly 'passed away' from their injuries.
"A second child received non-life threatening injuries and was also transported to the hospital for care," it continues.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing however Pinal County Sheriff's Office has said it 'appears to have been a tragic accident'.
The office resolves: "We would like to extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the grieving family."
A GoFundMe has since been set up for the family of the two-year-old who passed away, noting the parents of the young boy are now 'grappling with unimaginable grief'.
According to the page, the mom of the two-year-old is currently pregnant with her second child and so faces the 'daunting task of preparing for the arrival of the [...] newborn' amid the 'sorrow' of losing a child.
The GoFundMe asks the community to come together to offer 'support' and 'alleviate the financial burden that accompanies such tragedies'.
It resolves: "No contribution is too small, and your prayers are equally cherished. Let's come together to surround [them] with love, compassion, and support during this incredibly difficult time.
"Thank you for your generosity and kindness."
And sadly it's not the first time such an incident with a bounce house leading to fatalities has occurred before.
In 2022, Science Daily revealed 'at least 479 people were injured and 28 died worldwide in more than 130 bounce house accidents due to weather events since 2000'.
It added: "But the researchers caution that these estimates are likely an undercount."
Lead author of the study and a geography professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, John Knox, said: "These bounce houses aren't something to set up and then forget to stake them into the ground.
"What could go wrong? The answer is that it could blow away in winds that are not anywhere near severe levels. Some of these cases were in purely clear skies."
UNILAD has contacted Pinal County Sheriff's Office for comment.
Poppy Bilderbeck