A six-year-old girl has died and several other children have been injured after a bouncy castle exploded and catapulted them 'more than 45 foot into the air'.
The tragedy struck at a restaurant close to Girona, a city in the northeastern corner of Catalonia, Spain.
Seven children were playing on the bouncy castle behind the Mas Oller restaurant on Sunday afternoon, reports the Daily Mail.
The six-year-old was rushed to an intensive care unit at a hospital not far away, but died a few hours later.
Three of the other children, aged between three and 11, were taken to hospital by helicopter - including a nine-year-old boy.
A seven-year-old girl was said to be in a stable condition following surgery, having suffered multiple injuries.
Four other children suffered minor injuries including bruising and cuts.
The cause of the explosion was pointed to a valve on the bouncy castle which failed.
This led to a steady build up of pressure, which ultimately caused the explosion and sent the children into the air before landing on the surrounding tarmac and grass.
In addition to the horrific injuries caused to the children, the explosion hurled fragments of the bouncy castle up onto the restaurant's roof, and several pieces of debris were discovered as far as 120 feet away.
The chaotic scene resulted in the arrival of seven ambulances, two helicopters, five fire crews and many police at the restaurant just outside Caldes de Malavella, a town once famous for its ancient thermal baths.
Customers at the restaurant reported hearing a 'loud bang' shortly before the castle left the ground, with Salvador Balliu, Mayor of Caldes de Malavella saying that the explosion was 'very, very strong'.
He also reported that the bouncy castle was relatively new at the time of the accident.
Remains of the inflatable have been collected along with the motor, in order for them to be analysed in the hope of figuring out whether the bouncy castle had been properly anchored before the tragedy occurred.
Jaume Matas, owner of Mas Oller, wasn't present at the time of the accident but confirmed that the bouncy castle was both new and had been in use for less than two months, after opening in the middle of March.
Last year, a British youngster lost her life in another tragic bouncy castle accident.
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Summer Grant, aged seven, from Norwich, was attending a funfair in Harlow, Essex, when strong winds lifted the inflatable from the ground.
Flowers left for seven-year-old Summer last year (Credit: PA)
High winds took the dome-shaped bouncy castle 'some distance', Chelmsford Coroner's Court heard.
Paramedics were called to Harlow Town Park but Summer later died in hospital.
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The vast majority of injuries tend to be caused by children bouncing awkwardly off the inflatable, children attempting spectacular stunts or children bouncing into each other.
In the case of wet or extremely weather, it's advised that children should not be allowed to play on a bouncy castle until conditions have improved.
Source: Daily Mail
Topics: Spain
