An alarming event transpired at a family festival when a nine-year-old boy, while inside a zorb ball, was propelled into the air, sustaining serious injuries.
The incident happened at the Southport Food and Drink Festival in Merseyside, UK, on the afternoon of Sunday, June 4. Eyewitness reports indicate that a swift gust of wind caught the inflatable ball, lifting it high over the treetops before dropping it nearby. Prompt action from bystanders and first aid from St John Ambulance staff thankfully ensured immediate assistance for the child.
Responding to the situation, Merseyside Police arrived quickly, confirming that the injuries the boy had sustained were not life-endangering. An air ambulance was called, and the child was transported to the hospital for further treatment. A witness detailed how the Zorb ball was catapulted from a water pool, landing on a garbage bin, which resulted in the ball bursting and the child tumbling onto the ground.
Authorities conducted an exhaustive health and safety check at the Southport location following the incident.
This episode recalls a sorrowful event from 2016, where a seven-year-old girl was killed when a bouncy castle she was in was carried off by the wind during an Easter fair in Harlow, Essex in the UK. Later, two fairground workers were convicted of gross negligence manslaughter due to their failure to secure the bouncy castle properly.
The recreational activity of zorbing, which involves rolling in these inflatable balls, carries its own risks. In 2013, a man was killed when a zorb ball he was in deviated from its course on an unfenced snow slope at a Russian ski resort, stopping on a frozen lake.
Despite this unfortunate incident, the Southport Food and Drink Festival continued to operate. Investigations are underway to understand the circumstances of the incident better and to avoid such situations in the future.
