Young girl dies after being thrown from a bouncy castle when it exploded

A young girl has died after being catapulted "20 feet into the air" when a bouncy castle "exploded" on a packed beach in Norfolk.

The girl, who has not been named, is believed to be no older than 4. She suffered a cardiac arrest after she was thrown into the air and eyewitnesses at Gorleston beach quickly summoned ambulances.   

Witnesses described hearing "the most enormous bang" and saw the girl "catapulted" into the air before emergency services tried desperately to keep her alive with CPR.  She was later taken to the James Paget Hospital, where she died.

Owner Curt Johnson, 47, who was not present at the time of the tragedy, said the inflatable may have exploded in the heat after temperatures reached 23C (73F) at the tourist attraction.

"It is very upsetting," Mr Johnson added. "We have been at the beach for a very long time, definitely a number of years and it is the first accident we have had there and it is quite shocking."

One witness said:

Just seen the most horrific thing in my life. 

A bouncy castle exploded at the beach and the child on it was catapulted about 20ft into the air.

PLEASE do not allow your children on a bouncy castle in this heat and PLEASE say a prayer for the 4 year old [who was] rushed to hospital after 15 minutes of CPR.

Totally heartbroken to hear that the little girl didn't make it. Thoughts and prayers go out to her family.