Boy, 9, seriously injured after inflatable ‘zorb’ ball ‘blown off lake’

A nine-year-old boy has been seriously injured after an inflatable zorb ball was reportedly blown off a lake by a sudden “gust of wind” at a food and drink festival.

The boy was inside the zorb at 2pm on Sunday at an outdoor festival in Victoria Park, Rotten Row, Southport, Merseyside.

He was taken away by air ambulance for treatment and remains in hospital. Police are investigating the cause of the incident, amid reports that the zorb was blown by a gust of wind.

An eyewitness told the Liverpool Echo: “It was quite breezy then all of the sudden there was a gust of wind.

“It (the inflatable ball) went over the trees and we thought it was a balloon at first before we realised it was one of the inflatables with a child inside and it landed right over there.”

The force said a second zorb ball was also raised but the child inside was unharmed.

A Merseyside Police statement said: “We are appealing for information after a child was seriously injured today in Southport.

“At around 2pm on Sunday June 4, it was reported that a nine-year-old boy had sustained significant injuries.

“The boy was inside an inflatable zorb ball on a lake, which was unexpectedly raised into the air before it landed on the grass.

“A second zorb ball containing another child was also raised at the same time, but thankfully this child was unharmed.

“The nine-year-old was taken to hospital by air ambulance for treatment to his injuries. He remains in hospital at this time.

“We are now appealing for anyone who may have captured images or videos of the incident to please get in touch to help us establish the circumstances of what happened.”

Send images or videos to police using the link https://unitedkingdom1cpp-portal.digital-policing.co.uk/merseyside/appeal/incide nt-at-victoria-park

Anyone with information, can direct message MerPolCC or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 quoting reference 596.

Additional reporting by PA