YOUNG GIRL KILLED IN BOUNCY CASTLE HORROR: TWO MEN ARRESTED AFTER A GIANT INFLATABLE WITH A CHILD ON IT IS BLOWN 150 YARDS ACROSS A PARK.

A young girl has died after strong winds blew a bouncy castle more than 150m across a park in Essex. The victim, thought to be seven years old, was taking part in an Easter celebration at Harlow Town Park, in Harlow, organised by Thurston Fun Fairs. She was taken to hospital with serious injuries, but was later confirmed to have died.

Essex Police confirmed a 24-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man, both from Cambridgeshire, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence and remain in police custody. Pictured: Police survey the wreckage of a bouncy castle that blew away in strong winds at an Easter fair in Harlow Town Park, Essex, in which a young girl was killed.

The girl is thought to have been seven years old and was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital where she later died of her injuries. Police, pictured at the scene, have arrested two people on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence. Ray Smith, of the Showmans Guild of Great Britain, said the incident was caused by a 'sudden gust'

Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate detectives are leading the investigation and have appealed for witnesses. It is thought the bouncy castle came loose from its 'moorings' and was blown away, with the child inside.

Ray Smith, a representative of the Showmans Guild of Great Britain, said the tragedy was due to a 'sudden gust'. He said: 'Had it been a consistent wind they would have closed down all the inflatables.' Asked about how the inflatables were set up he said: 'I know the (Thurston) family and I am very confident they had staked it out properly. 'Obviously there is a full investigation to be held into how this could have happened and to make sure it can never ever happen again.'

Emergency services were called at 4.15pm yesterday, with two ambulance crews and an East of England air ambulance arriving at the scene. The girl, from Norwich, was taken to Princess Alexandra hospital in Harlow, where she later died. Footage of the aftermath of the tragic incident show several ambulances and police cars at the scene, as the girl was treated in the park. Raindrops spatter the camera lens in the footage, uploaded to YouTube by Your Harlow Films, as stormy weather continues to buffet the park.

Police today launched a witness appeal asking for anyone who saw the incident to come forward. The deflated bouncy castle, decorated with characters from Disney's Toy Story, pictured at the park. Conservative MP for Harlow Robert Halfon said he was asking town authorities to consider banning bouncy castles from the park after a second incident in the space of a year.

Flowers have been left at Harlow Town Park this morning, pictured, in tribute to the young girl. A spokesman said: 'We have launched an investigation after a girl died following an incident in Harlow Town Park in Edinburgh Way on Saturday, March 26.

'Detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate are leading this investigation and would like to speak to anybody who has any information or who witnessed the incident.'

Detective Inspector Daniel Stoten added: 'This is a very tragic incident where a young girl has lost her life. My deepest sympathies go out to her family.

'We are trying to establish the circumstances surrounding how the girl came to be injured and I urge anyone who was at the event and witnessed the incident to contact me.

'We are aware of video footage of the scene being circulated and ask anyone who captured the incident on camera to get in touch.'

Conservative MP for Harlow Robert Halfon said locals have raised concerns at another tragic incident involving a bouncy castle in the space of a year. He said: 'In the past few hours a number of residents have contacted me asking how this could happen and what is being done.


'I will be asking the relevant authorities to start an urgent inquiry as to how this tragedy happened, and to find out who is responsible, especially given events last year, and to consider whether bouncy castles such as this should be banned from Harlow Town fairs, until we can be sure that they are completely safe, so such a horrific tragedy never happens again.'

It is the second bouncy castle disaster at Harlow Town Park in less than a year, after another collapsed with children inside in May 2015. It is thought the bouncy castle came loose from its moorings at around 4.15pm yesterday in the strong winds

The scene, pictured, remains cordoned off as officers continue their investigation into how the incident happened. Video footage, pictured, captured the aftermath of the incident as police and emergency services arrived. Horrified parents took to social media after the event claiming the bouncy castle 'did not look safe' and registered their shock at the events.

Terri Rickards, a Harlow mother who was at the park, described the scene on Facebook. She said: 'This is just devastating news. My two little ones were there today, both under the ages of five.

'We did not allow them on this bouncy castle as it just didn't look safe. The winds were just far too strong! I can't believe what I'm reading, such sad news. RIP little one.' Meanwhile on Twitter, Yvonne Hazard, who was in a nearby restaurant, tweeted: 'I was in the Toby opposite Harlow Park when the tragedy happened today. Just awful.

'A lady who came into Toby's saw it rolling over & over. We was all praying no one was still in it. Such a tragedy.' Emergency services were called to the scene at 4.15pm yesterday, and sent two ambulance crews and an air ambulance. Officers are working with the Health and Safety Executive as their investigations continue.

It is the second bouncy castle disaster at Harlow Town Park in less than a year, after another collapsed with children inside in May 2015.Parents who leapt into the inflatable to rescue their children described it as 'something out of a horror film'. Harlow Council officials visited the fair to carry out an investigation into what happened.

The bouncy castle was blown 150m across Harlow Town Park, after it came loose from its 'moorings'. Two paramedics run to where the bouncy castle landed after being blown 150m through the air by strong winds. Air ambulance crew members follow paramedics to the scene, where the little girl was treated before being taken to hospital where she later died of her injuries


A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service last night said: 'Our thoughts are with the friends and family involved on this sad day.' A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive said it was assisting police. 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.'