High winds launched a bounce house onto the field during a Southern Maryland Blue Crabs baseball game Friday in Waldorf, Md., killing a 5-year-old and injuring a 6-year-old.
As reported by Washington D.C. NBC affiliate WRC, the 5-year-old boy, whose name had not been released as of this writing, was airlifted to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Another child also was rushed to a hospital via helicopter with injuries not expected to be life-threatening, Charles County EMS personnel said.
The bounce house was set up at a Blue Crabs game in Regency Furniture Stadium to entertain kids while the team played. A wind gust carried it 20 feet into the air, over a wall and onto the playing field, causing children to fall out and onto the ground, WRC reported.
Charles County EMS personnel at the stadium for the game rushed to care for injured children. Trainers from the baseball team and volunteer first responders in the stands also helped.
Emergency personnel responded to a 911 call just before 9:30 p.m. saying a bounce house with children inside flew into the air because of a gust of wind. It was unclear how many children were inside the bounce house when it became airborne.
Witnesses told WRC that stakes had been hammered into the ground for the purpose of securing the bounce house. It was also not immediately clear how the wind gust was able to lift the bounce house, and whether it got loose because of the sheer power of the wind, the bounce house being improperly secured or a combination of factors.
“We extend our deepest empathy to the children and their families during this difficult time,” Charles County Board of County Commissioners president Reuben B. Collins II said in a statement. “We thank our EMS team and the Maryland State Police for their swift actions to ensure the children received immediate care.”
The Blue Crabs cancelled Saturday night's scheduled game and all other activities for the day. In a statement, the team offered "counseling and support to families, players and fans who attended the game."
Blue Crabs general manager Courtney Knichel said, "Our entire organization shares our condolences with the family mourning the loss of a child, and concern for the child who was injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all."
