Horror unfolded at a festival on Sunday afternoon (June 4) after a young boy in an inflatable zorb ball was 'swept into the air' by a 'gust of wind' and injured.
Emergency services, including an air ambulance, arrived at the scene of the incident at the Southport Food and Drink Festival shortly after 2pm.
Festival-goers watched on in horror as the inflatable ball, with the youngster still inside, was suddenly thrust into the air, reports the ECHO.
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Police and paramedics swiftly arrived at the scene in Victoria Park where the child was taken away to hospital, where he is being treated. An area of the park was taped off throughout the afternoon.
One witness told the ECHO: "There was a gust of wind, the inflatable zorb took off from the water pool with the boy inside. The zorb then landed on a wheelie bin, the zorb popped on impact leaving the boy on the ground.
"Onlookers rushed over to help, the PA put an announcement out for security and for St John's to attend. They were on the scene within a minute or so. They were brilliant, took control of the situation and remained calm. A few minutes later the air ambulance circled for somewhere to land, at the same time the rapid response and main ambulance turned up."
As another said: "It was quite breezy then all of the sudden there was a gust of wind. It (the inflatable ball) went over the trees and we thought it was a balloon at first before we realised it was one of the inflatables with a child inside."
A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “We can confirm that an Air Ambulance was called to Victoria Park, Southport this afternoon (Sunday, June 4) following an accident within the grounds.
“First aid responders from St Johns Ambulance reacted quickly to provide assistance to the person involved prior to the arrival of other emergency services.
“Following the incident a full health and safety inspection has been undertaken at the Southport Food and Drink Festival and the event remains open to the public. Our thoughts are with those involved in the accident and we wish them a full recovery.”
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