Boy, 9, in hospital after being swept into the air in inflatable ‘zorb’ before landing on a wheelie bin at food and drink festival
- Boy was taking part in a zorbing activity at food and drink festival in Merseyside
- It is understood the nine-year-old was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
A young boy is being treated in hospital after an inflatable ‘zorb’ he was riding inside was swept high into the air by a freak gust of wind.
The nine-year-old was taking part in the zorbing activity at Southport Food and Drink Festival, Merseyside, when the accident happened at 2pm today.
Volunteers from St John’s Ambulance treated the boy at the scene and an air ambulance was scrambled, before he was taken to hospital. Police said his injuries were not life-threatening.
The boy was enjoying the activity, which involves children running around inside an inflatable ball or zorb on a giant paddling pool, when the wind took him up into the air.
An onlooker said: ‘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.
A young boy was being treated in hospital last night after an inflatable ‘zorb’ (pictured once deflated) he was riding inside was swept high into the air by a freak gust of wind
The nine-year-old was taken to hospital by air ambulance for treatment to his injuries, which are not life threatening
The boy was taking part in the zorbing activity at Southport Food and Drink Festival, Merseyside, when the accident happened at 2pm
‘The PA put an announcement out for security and St John’s (ambulance) 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.’
It is understood he was taken to nearby Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
A spokesman for Merseyside police said: ‘At around 2pm, it was reported that a nine-year-old boy had sustained injuries at an outdoor festival in Victoria Park.
‘He has been taken to hospital by air ambulance for treatment to his injuries, which are not life threatening.’
Police are investigating the cause of the incident, amid reports that the zorb was blown by a gust of wind.
The force added that a second zorb ball was also raised but the child inside was unharmed.
Police attended the scene after the zorb was raised into the sky
Police are investigating the cause of the incident, amid reports that the zorb was blown by a gust of wind
The force said a second zorb ball was also raised but the child inside was unharmed
An onlooker said: ‘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’
It is understood the boy was taken to nearby Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
A Merseyside Police statement said: ‘We are appealing for information after a child was seriously injured today in Southport.
‘The boy was inside an inflatable zorb ball on a lake, which was unexpectedly raised into the air before it landed on the grass.
‘A second zorb ball containing another child was also raised at the same time, but thankfully this child was unharmed.
‘The nine-year-old was taken to hospital by air ambulance for treatment to his injuries. He remains in hospital at this time.
‘We are now appealing for anyone who may have captured images or videos of the incident to please get in touch to help us establish the circumstances of what happened.’
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