Tragedy at school festival: Children blown off bouncy castle by gust of wind

A school festival in Krugersdorp, South Africa, ended in a nightmare when a strong gust of wind lifted a bouncy castle packed with children into the air, violently throwing them several meters to the ground.

Images of the incident, already circulating on social media, show the exact moment the inflatable balloon rises , to the desperate cries of attendees and staff.

The incident occurred at Protearif Laerskool Primary School during the Protea Fees event held last weekend. According to local reports, at least four children were injured after falling from the top of the bouncy castle, which was not properly secured to the ground.

A video broadcast by media outlets such as Jacaranda FM and 2oceansvibe shows how a sudden gust of wind lifts the inflatable in seconds. Some children fall from the height while others are thrown several meters away. The audience panics and runs to try to help.

"It was traumatic; the children flew away like paper. The inflatable wasn't even properly anchored," said one mother who witnessed the scene.

Safety experts like Melissa Vere Russell of ABC Jumping Castles indicated that these types of incidents can be avoided by following basic protocols, such as anchoring the inflatables to fixed points and monitoring weather conditions. “This was a failure in installation, but also a failure in surveillance. There are tools to prevent this,” Russell said.

The local police have already opened an investigation, and the district's Department of Education confirmed it will assist in the process of determining responsibility. Parents, for their part, are demanding answers.

This type of tragedy is not uncommon. In December 2021, six children died in Australia when a bouncy castle went airborne under similar conditions. And in Mexico, although there are no recent reports of such serious incidents, it is increasingly common to see improperly placed inflatables at school parties without professional supervision.

The Krugersdorp case has reopened the debate on the need for clear regulations and effective enforcement of inflatable games. While they are a popular attraction, misuse can turn fun into tragedy.

"The problem isn't the bouncy castle, the problem is the lack of professionalism with which it's set up. You can't improvise with the safety of children," said a South African technician consulted by local media.