3-year-old girl dies in LaSalle bouncy castle accident
A child critically injured when an inflatable structure was swept away by powerful winds on Sunday has died, as Quebec's coroner investigates the tragedy.
A three-year-old girl who was critically injured when a bouncy castle was swept away by wind in LaSalle on Sunday has died. Quebec's coroner's office confirmed the death Tuesday morning, with Coroner Martine Lachance assigned to investigate.
The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. at Ouellette Park when powerful wind gusts lifted the inflatable structure into the air. Children were playing inside when it was blown away. A witness said the structure reached "30 to 40 feet" off the ground before being thrown to the ground. Six people — two children and four adults — were hospitalized following the accident.
First responders deployed five ambulances and an advanced life support unit. The family gathering was organized by the Madre Dei Cristiani Church. Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada issued a warning Monday about using inflatable equipment in high winds. "It came really fast," she said. "Hopefully it's a good advisement to people to be careful when they use this kind of equipment."
The loss has brought attention to the dangers posed by sudden weather conditions during outdoor gatherings.