Water park tragedy as father, 35, is killed and his three-year-old daughter injured when 60-foot bouncy castle is sent 45 feet by a powerful gust of wind in France
- Disaster struck at Wonderland Water Park in Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume
- The victims went into cardiac arrest after being thrown about 50 meters by a gust of wind
- Both were resuscitated and flown to hospitals in Marseille, but father later died
A man was killed and his daughter was seriously injured in a shocking incident at a water park in which their inflatable bouncy castle was tossed into the air by strong winds and thrown some 150 feet high in France yesterday.
The tragedy unfolded at the Wonderland Waterpark in Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume, in France’s southern Var region, when the 35-year-old father and his three-year-old were on the bouncy castle on one of the park’s biggest attractions. .
Wonderland had recently reopened after works, but the area faced weather warnings due to high winds, and a gust of wind lifted the castle out of the water and violently threw it across the park with the victims trapped inside.
They landed about 50 yards away and went into cardiac arrest.
Emergency services were able to resuscitate both father and daughter and airlift them to a hospital in Marseille, where they were placed in intensive care.
But the father later died of his injuries on Sunday night. His daughter is still in critical condition.
Wonderland Water Park in Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume, in the southern Var region of France
In the aftermath of the incident, Mayor Alain Decanis issued a statement via social media condemning the lack of security in the park and paying tribute to the deceased.
“When I learned on Sunday afternoon that there had been an accident at Wonderland Park in Saint-Maximin, I immediately went to the scene,” he said.
‘I could immediately assess the seriousness of the situation for a father and his daughter. The inflatable structure they were in was lifted and then swept away by a gust of wind and violently projected 50 meters away.
‘Firefighters and other rescuers were on the scene very quickly, but the situation was already critical when the two victims were airlifted to hospitals in Marseille.
“However, I hoped for a positive outcome and to my great sadness I heard late in the evening that Dad did not survive.
“How could a water park that was accepted on common territory to bring joy and happiness to children turn into a drug of death that terrorized an entire family?
“Tonight I would like to express my sincere condolences to the mother who was present at the scene, who showed remarkable courage, and to all members of the family. the family.
“All my thoughts go out to them tonight.”
Decanis added that prosecutors had opened an investigation into the incident.