3‑year‑old dies as bouncy castle lifted by wind in Montreal

A three-year-old girl has died from injuries sustained when a bouncy castle was thrown into the air by strong winds during a party in Montreal last weekend. Eleven people were injured in the incident, with six requiring hospitalization.

The accident occurred on Sunday afternoon at Parc Ouellet in the LaSalle borough of southwest Montreal. Emergency medical services reported that a bouncy castle and a tent were tossed by high winds during a party held by a local church. Environment Canada said wind speeds reached up to 50 kilometers per hour at the time.

Coroner Martine Lachance has been assigned to investigate the causes and circumstances surrounding the death.

The tragedy has drawn attention to the safety of inflatable play structures. Cathy Denis, owner of an inflatable-structure rental company in Quebec, said she does not install or operate bouncy castles when forecasts call for wind speeds exceeding 38 kilometers per hour. She explained that this limit is important because inflatables present a large surface area, and sudden gusts can move the structures even when they are properly anchored.

Unlike amusement rides, inflatable play structures in Quebec are not regulated by the...