London: A young girl has died after the bouncy castle she was playing on blew away.
Two people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence following the incident in Harlow on Saturday afternoon, Essex police said.
East of England ambulance service said crews were called to Harlow Town park shortly after 4pm to reports that a girl had been seriously injured when the bouncy castle she was on blew “some distance” away.
The girl, whose age police have not confirmed, was treated by ambulance crews and the Herts and Essex air ambulance and taken to Princess Alexandra hospital in Harlow, where she later died.
Last year a bouncy castle collapsed while children were playing on it during a funfair in the park.
Harlow council officers visited the site following the incident last May and suggested a number of health and safety improvements, including better stewarding of the event.
It was reported at the time that three children had to be treated by paramedics when the inflatable castle collapsed on them.
After news of Saturday’s tragedy broke, Conservative MP for Harlow Robert Halfon tweeted: “My thoughts and heart go to family.”
A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive said it was assisting police.
