Five Children Hospitalized After Powerful Winds Send Jumping Castles Flying

Five children were hospitalized after two separate jumping castle accidents in Australia on the same day, both involving strong winds.

The first incident happened around 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, during a children’s birthday party at a home in Mount Duneed, south of Geelong in Victoria.

Victoria Police said strong winds affected the inflatable attraction, throwing two children from the jumping castle.

“Two children were thrown from the jumping castle and taken to hospital by road,” a police spokesperson said.

Authorities said several other children were playing on the inflatable at the time but were not injured.

Ambulance Victoria sent a mobile intensive care ambulance along with advanced life support paramedics to the scene.

The two injured children, a boy and a girl, were taken to Geelong University Hospital with upper body injuries.

Both were listed in stable condition.

Later that same day, a similar accident unfolded in Banksia, New South Wales, where strong winds reportedly lifted another jumping castle into the air.

NSW Ambulance said emergency crews arrived to find five patients, including three children.

“On our arrival we were presented with five patients, three of whom were paediatric,” NSW Ambulance’s Emily Cottman told 9 News.

Two 4-year-old children suffered minor head injuries, while an 18-month-old baby was also hurt.

All three children were treated at the scene before being taken to Sydney Children’s Hospital.

They were reported to be in stable condition.

The two incidents came as Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology warned of dangerous weather conditions, including wind gusts topping 55 mph.

Thunderstorms were also expected in parts of Victoria.

The agency urged residents to seek shelter indoors and stay away from trees, drains, gutters, creeks and waterways during the severe weather.

Both incidents are likely to renew safety concerns about inflatable jumping castles during windy conditions, especially at outdoor children’s parties.