Two young girls are fighting for their lives after a bouncy castle suddenly “exploded” and flew 25ft into the air, throwing the children over a metal fence onto tram tracks.
Video shows panic in the Russian city Barnaul as horrified parents try to grab the giant inflatable as it soars upwards with the girls, aged three and four, on board.
Three other youngsters were thrown off the out-of-control air castle uninjured as it flew up “as high as a lamppost”.
Two of the girls – named as Anna, three, and Vika, four – were thrown over a 6ft metal fence onto tram tracks.
(Image: Barnaul 22)
Anna suffered concussion and a spinal fracture, while Vika, who landed some 15ft from the bouncy castle, has a skull fracture, and wounds to her lungs and abdomen.
One of the girls was placed on a ventilator as doctors battled to save her, Kommersant reported.
“The girls are currently undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit,” a health ministry spokesperson said.
Witnesses rushed to secure the castle and check that no children were trapped inside.
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(Image: IC in Altai region)
Investigators are probing the cause of the incident close to a shopping mall, and initially stated that it was caused by strong winds.
However, witnesses denied there were gales and witnesses claimed there was the “sound of an explosion” or a loud burst.
One theory was that it had been pumped up too strongly, and there were claims it was not properly secured.
(Image: Barnaul 22)
Anastasia Dolmatova said: “What wind? I work one bus stop away from this place, but even we heard the bang.”
She called on investigators to “accurately check the cause”.
“Some of the ropes were not secured,” said one local report.
“And in violation of all the requirements, the bouncy castle had been tied to the fence.”
The bouncy castle had no protective underlay, and was rubbing against the tarmac, possibly causing the burst, said a witness.
(Image: @yusifli_22)
The Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case into the incident.
Reports say the owners of the attraction have been established.
Local MP Sergey Pisarev said: “No special mounts were used, the attraction was pumped, it heated up, and rose into the air.”
He complained there were no proper safety checks on bouncy castles.
Local governor Viktor Tomenko ordered checks of all inflatables following the incident, it was reported.
