A terrible accident occurred Friday at a minor league baseball game in Maryland when a bouncy castle was blown onto the field by a gust of wind. According to multiple reports, a 5-year-old child was inside the bouncy castle at the time of the accident and died.
The death of the child from La Plata, Maryland, was confirmed in multiple reports Saturday.
NBC Washington, citing Charles County EMS, reported that another child was taken to the hospital in an emergency helicopter with non-life-threatening injuries.
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Charles County, home of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, confirmed the child’s death in a news release Saturday:
On August 2 at 9:21 p.m., Charles County Public Safety 9-1-1 received a call from Regency Furniture Stadium reporting that a moon bounce house had blown away due to a gust of wind, while children were inside. At the time, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs baseball team was playing a game and the moon bounce house was carried approximately 15 to 20 feet into the air, causing the children to fall before it landed on the playing field.
Charles County EMS personnel, who were already stationed at the stadium for the game, along with baseball coaches and several volunteer first responders who were present, quickly began treating patients within minutes of the incident.
In the press release, Charles County Gov. Reuben B. Collins, II, Esq., said, “We extend our deepest sympathy to the children and their families during this difficult time. We thank our EMS team and the Maryland State Police for their quick actions to ensure the children received immediate care.”
Courtney Knichel, general manager of Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, also released a statement Saturday.
“Our entire organization extends our condolences to the family as they mourn the loss of a child and are concerned for the injured child,” she said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them all.”
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs have canceled the game and “all baseball activities” for Saturday. The team said it is also offering counseling and support to families, players and fans who attended the game.
Witnesses interviewed by NBC Washington said the bouncy castle was secured by stakes driven into the ground. It’s unclear what caused the gust of wind to blow the bouncy castle onto the playground.
The Blue Crabs belong to the Independent Atlantic League, a feeder league to Major League Baseball.
