Authorities are investigating after a church gathering in Montreal ended in tragedy when high winds sent a bouncy castle airborne.
MONTREAL, Quebec — A 3-year-old girl has died after suffering injuries when strong winds lifted an inflatable castle into the air during a church party at a Montreal park, an accident that also injured 11 other people and prompted an official investigation.
The incident occurred May 31 at Parc Ouellet in the LaSalle borough of southwest Montreal, where families had gathered for a church-sponsored event. Emergency crews responded after high winds struck the area, sending a bouncy castle and a tent into the air. Six people were hospitalized. The girl’s death, confirmed days later, has focused attention on the safety of inflatable attractions and the risks posed by sudden weather changes at outdoor events.
Emergency medical services said the accident unfolded during the Sunday afternoon gathering as weather conditions deteriorated. Witnesses reported chaos as gusts swept through the park and lifted temporary structures from the ground. Responders arrived to find multiple injured people, including children, and began triage efforts at the scene before transporting the most seriously hurt victims to hospitals.
The girl, who was 3 years old, later died from the injuries she suffered in the accident. Officials said 11 people were hurt overall. Six required hospital treatment, while others were treated for less severe injuries. Authorities have not released additional details about the identities of those injured. Investigators have also not publicly said how high the inflatable structure traveled or whether it remained anchored before the gusts struck. Emergency services confirmed that both a bouncy castle and a tent were affected by the winds. The church that organized the gathering has not been publicly accused of wrongdoing, and investigators have not announced any findings regarding responsibility.
Weather data collected by Environment Canada showed wind speeds reaching approximately 31 miles per hour during the afternoon of the event. Safety specialists say inflatables can become hazardous when exposed to strong winds because of their large surface area. Cathy Denis, who owns an inflatable-structure rental company in Quebec, said she does not install or operate such attractions when forecasts call for winds above 24 miles per hour. Denis said the threshold is important because sudden gusts can move inflatable structures even when they have been secured. Her comments reflected concerns often raised within the industry about weather monitoring and the need to follow manufacturer guidelines when operating inflatable attractions outdoors.
The Montreal accident is not the first fatal event involving a windborne inflatable attraction. Similar tragedies have occurred in several countries during the past decade. In 2022, an 8-year-old girl died after strong winds lifted a bouncy castle during a fair near Valencia, Spain, injuring eight other children. In 2021, six children died and three others were seriously injured when a gust of wind carried a jumping castle into the air during a school celebration in Tasmania, Australia. In another case in Spain in 2017, a 6-year-old girl died and several children were injured when a bouncy castle reportedly came loose and was blown into the air. Those incidents led to investigations into anchoring systems, weather conditions and operating practices.
Canadian authorities have long studied injuries connected to inflatable attractions. Health Canada advises operators to secure inflatables firmly to the ground to reduce the risk of tipping, movement or airborne lift. A study published by the Public Health Agency of Canada identified 674 injuries linked to inflatable attractions reported through a national injury surveillance program between 1990 and 2009. Children ages 2 through 9 accounted for the largest share of injuries, and fractures represented more than one-third of reported cases. Researchers have also found that inflatable attractions account for a significant portion of amusement-ride injuries treated in emergency settings, highlighting the need for strict compliance with safety recommendations.
Quebec Coroner Martine Lachance has been assigned to investigate the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death. The investigation is expected to examine weather conditions, site preparations, anchoring methods, equipment setup and any other factors that may have contributed to the accident. Officials have not announced a timetable for the release of findings, and no charges or enforcement actions have been reported. The inquiry could result in recommendations for event organizers, rental operators or regulators if investigators identify safety concerns or procedural failures.
In the days following the tragedy, the park became a place of mourning for families and community members. Residents expressed shock that a family-oriented church gathering could end with such severe consequences. Safety experts have emphasized that weather conditions can change rapidly and that inflatable attractions require constant monitoring when used outdoors. While investigators continue their work, many questions remain unanswered, including whether the equipment met all safety requirements and whether weather conditions exceeded operational limits before the accident occurred.
The investigation remains active. Authorities are expected to continue reviewing evidence and witness accounts before releasing conclusions about what caused the inflatable structures to become airborne during the May 31 event.
Author note: Last updated June 11, 2026.