I thought this story was an Internet joke when I first read it. A children’s Bouncy Castle became airborne near Syracuse, NY and injured 3 children, with 2 boys still in the hospital in stable, but serious condition. The boys fell out of the castle at a height of 15′-20′, with a third child having fallen out at a lower height and suffered minor injuries. The Bouncy Castle is said to have reached a height of 50′ and finally came down in a schoolyard.
One of the boys fell onto a parked car before falling to the pavement. He is in a medically induced coma.
The other boy who landed in a street had broken arms, a broken jaw, broken facial bone and a possible ruptured spleen.
The boys’ ages are 5 and six. Their names are not being released.
An expert in the industry that sells and rents “Bouncy” equipment has reached out to make it known that the Bouncy Castle involved was not the commercial type he operates.
The homeowner apparently purchased a consumer grade Bouncy Castle that uses a much thinner material and is lighter. They plastic stakes provided are also much too small, according to Tom Barber, owner of Bounce Around. Mr. Barber uses 42″ steel stakes for his equipment and recommends that anyone who purchases the consumer type bouncing equipment for anywhere between $200-$300, purchase the corkscrew dog stakes separately at approx. $3.50 each to ensure the wind doesn’t lift the Bouncy.
The police are ruling it a tragic accident and no charges are being filed against the homeowner, who followed the instructions and used the stakes provided, as directed.
The company that makes the Bouncy Castle, however, may have to provide some answers in civil lawsuits that are sure to follow.
Disclaimer: On January 4, 2016, the owner of WestEastonPA.com began serving on the West Easton Council following an election. Postings and all content found on this website are the opinions of Matthew A. Dees and may not necessarily represent the opinion of the governing body for The Borough of West Easton.
