A joyful day at a primary school in Krugersdorp descended into panic when a gust of wind lifted an allegedly unsecured jumping castle into the air, injuring two young children. The incident took place during Protea Fees, a community festival held at Protearif Laerskool, The Citizen reported.
According to 2oceansvibe, eyewitnesses watched in disbelief as the inflatable was pulled skyward, reaching an estimated height of two to three storeys before two children were flung from the structure. A widely shared video captured the heart-stopping moment the castle floated upwards while children tumbled mid-air.
Attendees quickly pointed to apparent safety oversights. ‘Other inflatables looked properly secured, but this one didn’t seem anchored at all,’ a bystander told The Citizen, expressing concern after repeatedly reviewing the video footage.
It remains uncertain whether the castle’s tethers failed or if it had never been fastened down, as the video doesn’t clearly show any ropes or anchors in place (The Citizen).
Experts say proper anchoring is non-negotiable. Melissa Vere Russel of ABC Jumping Castles, quoted by The Citizen, explained that inflatable structures with roofs or enclosures can act like parachutes if not tethered: ‘A wind can simply pick it up and carry it away.’ She added that all jumping castles are manufactured with mechanisms designed for ground anchoring, and ignoring them can be deadly.
On-site sources told The Citizen that one of the children sustained a skull fracture while the other broke an arm, though these injuries had not been officially confirmed at the time of writing.
When approached for comment, Protearif Laerskool principal Donna Lourens did not respond.
Her assistant, Lauren van der Merwe, told The Citizen that the incident has been escalated to the Department of Education, which is now investigating.
As 2oceansvibe noted, the Krugersdorp accident echoes a tragic 2021 incident in Tasmania, where six children died and one was critically injured after a dust devil lifted a poorly secured jumping castle during a school event.
The latest incident is likely to renew public scrutiny over inflatable safety protocols, especially at events involving children.
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