A two-year-old boy has died and another child has been injured after a bouncy castle was blown away in Arizona.
The tragic accident happened on Saturday afternoon (27 April) at around 5pm local time.
In a statement released to People, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said: "PCSO was called to the area of W. Rosemead Dr. and N. Bel Air Rd. outside of Casa Grande. That afternoon, several children were playing in a bounce house when a strong gust of wind sent it airborne into the neighbouring lot."
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Following the accident, a two-year-old child was rushed to hospital but sadly 'passed away' from their injuries.
"A second child received non-life threatening injuries and was also transported to the hospital for care," the police statement continued.
There is an ongoing investigation into what happened but the Sheriff's Office has said it 'appears to have been a tragic accident'.
It resolved: "We would like to extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the grieving family."
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A GoFundMe page has been set up for the grieving parents. At the time of writing, donations have reached over $117,600 (£93,900).
According to the fundraiser which was set up by a family friend, the mum of the young boy is currently pregnant with her second child and faces the 'daunting task of preparing for the arrival of the [...] newborn' amid the 'sorrow' of losing her son.
It asks the community to come together to offer 'support' and 'alleviate the financial burden that accompanies such tragedies' to help the parents prepare 'for the new chapter in their lives'.
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"No contribution is too small, and your prayers are equally cherished," it adds. "Let's come together to surround [them] with love, compassion, and support during this incredibly difficult time.
"Thank you for your generosity and kindness."
Sadly, this isn't the first time a bouncy castle-related incident has led to a fatality.
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In 2022, Science Daily revealed 'at least 479 people were injured and 28 died worldwide in more than 130 bounce house accidents since 2000'.
Lead author of the study and a geography professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, John Knox, said: "These bounce houses aren't something to set up and then forget to stake them into the ground.
"What could go wrong? The answer is that it could blow away in winds that are not anywhere near severe levels. Some of these cases were in purely clear skies."
LADbible Group has contacted Pinal County Sheriff's Office for comment.
Bec Oakes