Crooklands inflatable rides injure four children at scout day

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-22500144

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Four children have been taken to hospital after two inflatable rides were ripped out of the ground during a scouts activity day in Cumbria.

A strong gust of wind during hail at the Westmorland County Showground in Crooklands, uprooted the inflatable slides at 15:00 GMT on Saturday.

A boy, nine, from Carlisle, was airlifted to the Royal Preston Hospital with suspected spinal damage.

Three other children were taken to hospital as a precaution and released.

Cumbria Police said the nine-year-old boy's injuries were not as serious as first thought and he had suffered soft tissue damage. He was released from hospital on Saturday.

An eight-year-old girl from the Carlisle area suffered bruising and another boy, whose age is not known, was uninjured. They were also released from hospital on Saturday.

A 13-year-old boy from the Egremont area was released from hospital on Sunday.

The Scout Association said the activity was supplied and operated by a commercial provider.

A spokesman said: "Safety of our members is always our top priority and we are keen to understand what went wrong on this occasion.

"Local scouting volunteers are providing support where it is required."

The Health and Safety Executive is investigating the incident.

About 2,500 scouts were at the event which was part of a tour of the North West Scouting region by the UK's Chief Scout Bear Grylls.