A joyful Arizona afternoon turned into a nightmare when a bouncy house was carried away by a sudden gust of wind, claiming the life of a two-year-old boy and injuring another child.
According to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened around 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at W. Rosemead Dr. and N. Bel Air Rd, outside Casa Grande, Arizona. A powerful gust of wind lifted the bouncy house, which several children were playing in, off the ground and slammed it down in a neighboring lot.
Police said that two children were transported to the hospital for treatment of their injuries, where the two-year-old passed away. The second child sustained injuries described as “non-life threatening” during the incident.
The young victim was identified as Bodhi Naaf, the two-year-old son of Cristy and Phoenix firefighter Karl Naaf. His father’s colleagues at the fire station confirmed the devastating loss on Instagram.
Weather records indicate that winds in Casa Grande on Saturday were consistently between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts reaching up to 25 mph. Notably, a gust of 23 mph occurred shortly before 5 p.m., coinciding with the accident’s timing.
According to safety guidelines published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the maximum wind speed for using a bouncy house should range from 15 to 25 mph. No wind gusts exceeding 25 mph were recorded in Casa Grande after 12:15 a.m. on Saturday.
Ashley Al-Khouri, a family friend whose husband is a firefighter with Karl Naaf, initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist Bodhi’s parents in this trying time. The generosity of donors has surpassed $122,000, a testament to the community’s support in their darkest hour.
“In a heartfelt message on the fundraising page, she shared: “On April 27th, Bodhi tragically lost his life after being lifted airborne by a sudden gust of wind while playing in a bouncy house. Compounding their grief, Cristy is expecting their second child on May 31, 2024, adding to their challenges as they prepare for the newborn’s arrival amidst their sorrow.”
This type of incident involving a bouncy house, also known as an inflatable house, is not rare. New research from the University of Georgia suggests that the lack of regulations surrounding bouncy houses could endanger countless children.
The study revealed that since 2000, over 130 bouncy house accidents due to weather events have resulted in at least 479 injuries and 28 fatalities worldwide. Researchers warn that these figures likely underestimate the true extent of the problem.
In addition, an estimated 10,000 emergency room visits occur annually in the U.S. due to bouncy house-related accidents, resulting in various injuries such as broken bones, muscle sprains, and concussions.
In December 2021 in Australia, five kids were killed when a sudden and powerful wind gust lifted an inflatable castle into the air at a primary school fun day in Devonport, Tasmania. Tragically, the children fell from a height of about 32 feet, resulting in the devastating loss of their lives.
In April 2019, in China, a bouncy castle was swept high into the sky by a small whirlwind at a fairground in Yucheng County, Henan Province. The sudden gust caused the deaths of two children and injured 20 others. Witnesses described seeing children taking a nearly 70-foot plunge.
