Girl, 7, dies after 'freak gust of wind' blows bouncy castle 500 feet at Easter fair



LONDON -- Two arrests have been made in Britain after a 7-year-old girl died while using a bouncy castle at an Easter fair.

The girl died after the inflatable castle at Harlow Town Park, 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of London, was swept away by a strong gust of wind. The girl was treated at the scene and taken to a hospital by air ambulance but still died.

Sky News reported the bouncy castle was blown about 500 feet (150 meters) by a "freak gust of wind."

Police said Sunday a man and a woman from a bouncy castle firm were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. They have not been identified.

Ray Smith of the Showmans Guild of Great Britain said the castle had been displaced by "a sudden gust." He said if the winds had been consistently high, the castle and other inflatables would have been closed.



"This is a very tragic incident where a young girl has lost her life. My deepest sympathies go out to her family," the BBC quoted Detective Inspector Daniel Stotton as saying.