A nine-year-old boy has been seriously injured while inside an inflatable zorb ball in a park in Southport, Merseyside.
The boy was in the transparent plastic ball in an inflatable pool in Victoria Park when it was “unexpectedly raised into the air before it landed on the grass”, according to Merseyside Police.
He was taken to hospital by air ambulance and remains there for treatment.
Another zorb with a child inside also floated up at the same time, but they were left unharmed.
The incident took place during Southport’s Food and Drink Festival in the park at about 2pm on Sunday.
Police are investigating the cause of the incident, amid reports that the zorb was blown by a gust of wind.
‘Very very scary’
A witness who was near the inflatable pool when the accident happened told Sky News: “There was a huge gust of wind out of nowhere, causing people’s umbrellas, drinks and plates to fly about, then the wind ramped up in a split second.
“One child was blown out of the pool and the second just flew up in the air at approximately 100ft (30m) and then landed heavy – we didn’t see him land, but we saw him fly up.”
They added that it was “very very scary” and that everyone who saw it was “quite shook up” following the incident.
A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “We can confirm that an air ambulance was called to Victoria Park, Southport this afternoon (Sunday 4 June) 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.”
