This weekend, a heartbreaking incident unfolded at Regency Furniture Stadium when a five-year-old boy from La Plata, Maryland, tragically lost his life.
The child was playing in a bouncy house during a Minor League Baseball game featuring the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs when a sudden gust of wind sent the inflatable structure airborne, eventually landing on the field.
WTOP reported that, according to a county spokesperson, the bouncy house was lifted 15-20 feet into the air, causing several children to fall out before it crash-landed.
Emergency response was immediate.
“Charles County EMS personnel, who were already stationed at the stadium for the game, along with trainers from the baseball team and several Volunteer first responders who were in attendance, swiftly began patient care within minutes of the incident,” the county stated in a release.
The injured boy was airlifted to Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he was later pronounced dead. Another child sustained severe injuries but is expected to recover.
Marie Ragano, an eyewitness attending the stadium’s “Faith and Family Night” event, described the terrifying scene: “All of a sudden, I saw the bounce house come flying through the air. I saw something fly out of it, but I didn’t realize it was a child until I saw both teams’ players running out into right field. It’s just so sad.”
Reflecting on the incident, Ragano added, “We go to carnivals and stuff. You always wonder … is everything put together correctly? You see these bounce houses flying through the air all the time on the news, so I’m not quite sure why this wasn’t anchored better.”
In the wake of the tragedy, the Blue Crabs postponed two games. The team is also providing counseling and support to affected families, players, and fans.
“Our entire organization shares our condolences with the family mourning the loss of a child, and concern for the child who was injured,” Blue Crabs general manager Courtney Knichel said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them all.”
RIP.