A 7-year-old boy has died during a youth football tournament in Belgium after a bouncy castle was reportedly lifted into the air by a sudden gust of wind, becoming airborne while children were inside. The boy was thrown into a fence and later died in hospital from critical injuries. Three other children were also injured and taken to hospital for medical checks.
Authorities launched an investigation into whether the bouncy castle had been properly secured and whether safety regulations had been followed. Local football clubs suspended activities following the incident, while support services were made available for affected children, families, and staff.
The incident has again renewed international concerns around inflatable play equipment safety, anchoring requirements, weather monitoring, and operational risk management during windy conditions at outdoor events, particularly following the 2021 Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle tragedy in Tasmania, Australia, where six children were killed after strong winds lifted an inflatable approximately 10 metres into the air during a school event.
