Time-progressed screen grab images of one of three inflatable bounce houses being blown away by a gust of wind at a soccer tournament held at Oceanside Middle School on Saturday.
A woman is reportedly in critical condition after three inflatable “bounce houses” blew away during a childrens soccer tournament in Oceanside over the weekend.
Nassau County police said 13 people were sent to local hospitals following the accident at a festival sponsored by the Oceanside United Soccer Club at Oceanside Middle School on Alice Avenue at 12:15 p.m. Saturday.
Most suffered minor injuries, but Newsday reported Monday 36-year-old Cathleen Hughes of Oceanside suffered head and spinal injuries. She is being treated at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow but a hospital spokesman didn’t immediately comment.
Michael Mazzocco was coaching his daughter’s game when the incident happened. His wife was shooting video of the game and shifted the camera to the bounce houses, capturing the mayhem.
Dozens of people can be heard screaming and seen running toward one of the bounce houses to hold it down and help the victims prior to police arrival.
It was not known if the bounce houses were securely fastened. The Nassau County district attorney is investigating.
A soccer league official didn’t comment.
“On behalf of the Oceanside United Soccer Club players, families, and volunteers, the Board of Directors extends its thoughts and best wishes to those involved in Saturday’s unfortunate incident,” the club posted in a message on its website.
Police said some of those injured were children in the inflatable houses and others were those who were struck as the bounce houses tumbled across the field.
Wind gusts were reportedly up to about 20 mph in Oceanside on Saturday.
The incident is the latest of a series of similar bounce house mishaps nationwide this year.
-With Associated Press.
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