A 5-year-old boy tragically died after a bounce house was lifted 15 to 20 feet into the air by a gust of wind during a professional baseball game on Saturday.
The incident happened at a game where the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs were playing. A strong wind lifted the bounce house, with children inside, and it landed on the baseball field. Emergency personnel, already present at the stadium, quickly responded.
The boy was severely injured and taken to the Children’s Hospital by Maryland State Police, but sadly, he passed away. Another child was also injured but is expected to recover.
Charles County Government Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins expressed sympathy for the families involved, thanking the EMS team and Maryland State Police for their quick response.
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs play in the Atlantic League of professional baseball. The game on Saturday was stopped, and the following game on Sunday was canceled.
Courtney Knichel, the general manager of the team, shared condolences and concerns for the affected families. According to NBC Washington, the bounce house had been set up for children to play in during the game. The wind blew it over a wall and onto the field, causing the children inside to fall.
Witnesses said the bounce house was secured with stakes in the ground.