Tributes pour in for 3-year-old girl who died after being thrown from 'exploding' trampoline

Floral tributes left at Gorleston beach in Norfolk where a girl was fatally thrown from an inflatable
PA

Tributes have been left to a girl aged three who died when an inflatable trampoline “exploded” at a beach in Norfolk.

Flowers and stuffed toys were left next to the fenced off area where the horrific accident occurred in Gorleston Beach in Norfolk.

Norfolk Police said the three-year-old girl was thrown from the bouncy castle and rushed to hospital on Sunday but sadly later died from her injuries.

An eye witness said that the bouncy castle “exploded” and that the child was thrown several feet into the air.

A young girl died after being thrown from a bouncy castle
PA

A 91-year-old man who wished to remain anonymous told the Mirror: “If you put two six-feet people on top of each other she still would have flown way above them.

"She shot way up into the air- easily more than 20 feet and landed in the sand.

"The mother ran up just screaming and crying for help.

"The people acted together. One girl called the police and people were clearing the path.

The young girl was taken to the James Paget Hospital where she died
PA

"The explosion was like a big gun. I was in the navy and I can tell you that it was an enormous bang."

Zoe Dye, 32, who was near the bouncy castle when it exploded said the horrific scene unfolded in “slow motion.”

"Literally there were screams from everyone on the beach and it was almost like slow motion.

"When the little girl was in the air no one could have done anything but people jumped up to try and catch her but she just dropped.

"It was everyone's instinct just to try and catch her.

"My little girl described what she saw as something from a horror film and she is very upset."

Police and paramedics at the scene in Gorleston after a girl was thrown from a bouncy castle and killed
Ryan Griffin

A witness named Sarah told Sky News: “At about 11o’clock, we heard a very loud bang and there was a lot of confusion. By the time I turned around, I didn’t actually realise that they had inflated a second bouncy castle but I don’t think it had been up for very long.

“We were all very confused about what the bang had been, I wasn’t sure if it had been a car crash but my sister turned around and said she actually saw the little girl hit the floor. It seems that somehow it exploded on the beach.”

She added that a lifeguard who was on duty on the beach gave CPR to the injured child for about 10 to 15 minutes before paramedics arrived at the scene.

Brandon Lewis, Conservative MP for Great Yarmouth, tweeted: "Absolutely tragic, thoughts are with family & friends, just so sad."

Images from the scene showed the deflated bouncy trampoline surrounded by a fence following the tragedy as uniformed officers stood guard.

Officers were called to Lower Esplanade around 11.15am.

Police erected a cordon at Gorleston beach in Norfolk
PA

Police erected a cordon at Gorleston beach in Norfolk (PA)

A spokeswoman for Norfolk Police said: "Police can confirm a child has sadly died following an incident in Gorleston earlier today, Sunday July 1 2018.

"Officers were called to Lower Esplanade around 11.15am following reports a child had been thrown from a bouncy castle.

"The young girl was taken to the James Paget Hospital; however sadly died.

"Next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

"A joint investigation between the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), local authority and police has been launched to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and a police cordon has been put in place at the scene whilst enquiries continue."

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