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Five children hospitalised after jumping castle incidents

Strong winds lifted two jumping castles into the air in Victoria and NSW.

Strong winds lifted two jumping castles into the air in Victoria and NSW. Photo: 7 News

Five children were hospitalised on Saturday in separate incidents involving inflatable jumping castles in Victoria and New South Wales.

Two children, a primary school-aged boy and girl, suffered upper body injuries after they were thrown from a castle during a little girl’s birthday party on a private property south-west of Melbourne.

Emergency services were called to a home in Mount Duneed shortly before 11am on Saturday.

Ambulance

Multiple other children managed to escape injury in the Victoria incident. Photo: Newswire

The children were rushed to Geelong University Hospital where they are in a stable condition.

“Two children were thrown from the jumping castle and taken to hospital by road,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

“A large number of other children also playing on the jumping castle at the time escaped injury.”

Hours later in Sydney’s south, another jumping castle was lifted about a metre and tipped over a fence, injuring two four-year-olds and a baby.

“On our arrival we were presented with five patients, three of whom were paediatric,” said Emily Cottman from NSW Ambulance.

The children were treated at the scene then taken to Sydney Children’s Hospital in a stable condition.

As strong wind gusts are forecast for NSW and Victoria, the Bureau of Meteorology warns, “Stay safe by avoiding dangerous hazards, such as floodwater, mud, debris, damaged roads and fallen trees.”

“Check that loose items, such as outdoor settings, umbrellas and trampolines are safely secured. Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.

“Stay indoors and away from windows.

“If outdoors, move to a safe place indoors. Stay away from trees, drains, gutters, creeks and waterways.”

The incidents recall the tragedy in December 2021 when six children died and three others were seriously injured after a freak wind lifted a jumping castle into the air at Hillcrest Primary School in Tasmania.

Tasmania jumping castle

The victims of the Tasmania jumping castle tragedy from 2011 (clockwise from top left): Addison, Jye, Zane, Chace, Peter and Jalailah Jayne-Marie. Photo: Tasmania Police

Students Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Zane Mellor, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan and Peter Dodt were enjoying end-of-year celebrations on the school oval at Devonport in northwest Tasmania when a wind gust lifted the castle and several inflatable balls in the air.

A coronial inquest into that incident will begin later this month.

Preparations for an inquest had been put on pause for years until the conclusion of criminal proceedings involving castle operator and owner Rosemary Gamble.

-with AAP

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