A serious incident occurred at the Southport Food and Drink Festival in Victoria Park, Rotten Row, Southport, Merseyside, UK, when an inflatable zorb ball came loose and landed on the grass, injuring a nine-year-old boy. The incident took place on Sunday at 2 pm, during an event where the park was hosting various activities for children, including inflatables, water walkers, and slides. According to police, the boy was inside the Zorb ball on a lake when it unexpectedly raised into the air and landed on the grass. A second zorb ball containing another child was also raised at the same time, but the child inside was unharmed. The nine-year-old boy was taken to hospital by air ambulance for treatment of his injuries and remains in hospital at this time.
Police are investigating the cause of the incident and are appealing for any information or footage of the incident to help establish the circumstances of what happened. The owner of the inflatable zorb ball company and the festival organizers are also expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of inflatable attractions at events and the need for proper supervision and control measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
It is not yet clear what caused the zorb ball to come loose, but the incident highlights the importance of ensuring that inflatable attractions are properly secured and maintained to prevent accidents. The incident also underscores the need for event organizers to have a robust safety plan in place to deal with emergencies and ensure the well-being of attendees. The investigation is ongoing, but police are urging anyone who may have captured images or videos of the incident to come forward and help them establish the circumstances of what happened.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety at events and ensuring that all necessary precautions are taken to prevent accidents. The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of inflatable attractions at events, and the need for proper supervision and control measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The Southport Food and Drink Festival was held at Victoria Park, which is home to the Southport Flower Show, and the incident highlights the importance of ensuring that all events held at the park are carried out safely.
As the investigation continues, police are urging anyone with information or footage of the incident to come forward and help them establish the circumstances of what happened. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety at events and ensuring that all necessary precautions are taken to prevent accidents.