A little boy has been injured after being flung in the air inside an inflatable ball which blew away due to a strong gust of wind at a busy festival.
An air ambulance rushed the nine-year-old lad to hospital after he was thrown into the air in the inflatable in front of horrified families.
"I can’t believe I’ve just witnessed that, I witnessed it with my own eyes, there was a kid in that ball," Joanne Murray, who is at Victoria Park in Southport, Merseyside, for the food and drink festival, said.
Merseyside Police have confirmed an ongoing incident at the large park.
Have you been affected by this story? Contact bradley.jolly@reachplc.com
A cordon was erected after the accident, reports Liverpool Echo.
The boy's injuries are serious but non life-threatening, police said.
Another witness said: "It was quite breezy then all of the sudden there was a gust of wind. It (the inflatable ball) went over the trees and we thought it was a balloon at first before we realised it was one of the inflatables with a child inside and it landed right over there."
Another visitor 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."
While balmy temperatures have hit 24C in the UK, wind speeds have increased from yesterday's calm conditions.
A mum of two children at the event said: “The wind picked him up from the water and carried him quite a bit away to a tree and he landed on the pavement.
"It wasn’t even that windy so it must’ve been a freak gust of wind.
"We used the zorb balls about 20 minutes earlier and there was no problem, I think wind was calmer.
“I hope the little child is ok."
Another witness said: "It was quite breezy then all of the sudden there was a gust of wind. It went over the trees and we thought it was a balloon at first before we realised it was one of the inflatables with a child inside and it landed right over there."
Photographs and videos show the park packed with visitors as emergency services work to treat the child.
An announcement was made over the Tannoy, thanking people for bearing with them as they dealt with “unusual circumstances”.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "We can confirm we are currently in attendance in Southport following reports that a child had been seriously injured.
"At around 2pm, it was reported that a nine-year-old boy had sustained injuries at an outdoor festival in Victoria Park, on Rotten Row.
"He has been taken to hospital by air ambulance for treatment to his injuries, which are not life threatening.
"Emergency services remain at the scene while the circumstances of this incident are established."
"We can confirm that an Air Ambulance was called to Victoria Park, Southport this afternoon (Sunday June 4th) following an accident within the grounds," a spokesperson for Sefton Council said.
"First aid responders from St Johns Ambulance reacted quickly to provide assistance to the person involved prior to the arrival of other emergency services.
"Following the incident a full health and safety inspection has been undertaken at the Southport Food and Drink Festival and the event remains open to the public.
"Our thoughts are with those involved in the accident and we wish them a full recovery."
The seaside town's festival, which has more than 100 independent businesses at stalls and games for children, remains busy.
