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13 injured when bounce houses go airborne in New York
By Rick Martin, CNN
UPDATED: 04:28 AM EDT 06.05.11
A heavy gust of wind blew away inflatable bounce houses with children inside at a New York soccer event, leaving 13 people injured, authorities said late Saturday.
The Oceanside United Soccer Club in Long Island was hosting a tournament Saturday afternoon when three bounce houses started floating away, said Eric Evensen, a Nassau County police officer.
"As children were inside, a heavy gust of wind blew across the field, raising them off the ground and sending them airborne," he said.
"Once they hit the ground, they began rolling and struck several people on the ground."
Lara Rhatigan said she was about to enter a ride when her neck got hooked by a rope connected to a bounce house.
"The wind blew everything down," she told CNN affiliate News 12 Long Island.
"It felt like someone was grabbing my neck and they were dragging me."
Her mother was getting hot dogs at the time, and turned around to see the houses floating away.
"I couldn't believe it. It was like something out of a movie," Marianna Rhatigan told the affiliate.
The 13 people were treated for minor injuries at local hospitals, according to authorities.
"I don't think there'll be any criminal charges, but I'm sure there could be some civil," Evensen said.
From CNN.com
By Rick Martin, CNN
UPDATED: 04:28 AM EDT 06.05.11
A heavy gust of wind blew away inflatable bounce houses with children inside at a New York soccer event, leaving 13 people injured, authorities said late Saturday.
The Oceanside United Soccer Club in Long Island was hosting a tournament Saturday afternoon when three bounce houses started floating away, said Eric Evensen, a Nassau County police officer.
"As children were inside, a heavy gust of wind blew across the field, raising them off the ground and sending them airborne," he said.
"Once they hit the ground, they began rolling and struck several people on the ground."
Lara Rhatigan said she was about to enter a ride when her neck got hooked by a rope connected to a bounce house.
"The wind blew everything down," she told CNN affiliate News 12 Long Island.
"It felt like someone was grabbing my neck and they were dragging me."
Her mother was getting hot dogs at the time, and turned around to see the houses floating away.
"I couldn't believe it. It was like something out of a movie," Marianna Rhatigan told the affiliate.
The 13 people were treated for minor injuries at local hospitals, according to authorities.
"I don't think there'll be any criminal charges, but I'm sure there could be some civil," Evensen said.
From CNN.com
