The five-year-old ‘dinosaur lover’ boy who died after strong winds lifted a bounce house he was playing in 20ft into the air before launching it into a baseball stadium has been pictured.
The tragic incident took place at around 9:12pm on Friday after the inflatable filled with children came crashing down onto a field during a Southern Maryland Blue Crabs game in Waldorf, Charles County.
The bounce house had been set up for children’s entertainment at Regency Furniture Stadium, but in a freak turn of events, a gust of wind carried it into the sky and over a wall before dropping it onto the field mid-game.
Local emergency services were already stationed at the game and along with trainers and medical personnel, they were able to scramble to the scene instantly.
Five-year-old Declan Hicks from La Plata, was airlifted to a children’s hospital via a state police helicopter but was later pronounced dead, the county said. Another child was also dashed to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Five-year-old Declan Hicks from La Plata has been pictured after he died on Friday night when a bounce house he was playing in was launched 20ft into the air by a gust of wind and dumped in a baseball field
The tragic incident took place on Friday after the inflatable filled with children came crashing down onto a field in Waldorf, Charles County.
The accident occurred at Regency Furniture Stadium where families had gathered to watch the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs play
Following his death, a GoFundMe was set up in memory of the young boy in a bid to support his distraught family.
‘It is said that being a parent is hard, but nothing is harder than losing a child, especially in something so innocent that no parent would expect.
‘That day family, friends, and the world lost a dinosaur lover, ninja turtle fan, and crazy sock wearing (with boots!) 5-year-old, Declan Hicks,’ the heartbreaking post read.
‘Declan was a part of the Blessed Lambs Preschool family for 3 years. He was a very special little boy who brought light and laughter to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. To know him was to love him.
‘He was a great friend, and a fan favorite in his 4-year-old classroom, not just with other children but with his teachers. Our heart aches for his family and our school family.
‘We know that no money can bring back this wonderful little life but hope to help his family navigate through this difficult time.
‘Declan was not just a son but a brother and loved so much by his family. We know that surrounding them with love and support during this time would be greatly appreciated’.
The La Plata Blue Knights Football and Cheerleading Organization also took to Facebook to pay tribute to the member of their flag football team.
‘We would like to take this time to mourn the loss of #9 Declan Hicks, a member of our flag football team, who was taken far to soon as a result of Friday’s incident at Blue Crabs Stadium,’ they wrote.
‘We offer our sincerest condolences to his parents, family, friends, coaches and teammates.
A GoFundMe page in honor of the young boy read: ‘He was a very special little boy who brought light and laughter to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him’
The bounce house could be seen delated and upside-down following the accident
The Blue Crabs have cancelled their upcoming game and are offering counseling to the devastated families
‘The LaPlata Blue Knights will be dedicating this up coming fall season, to the memory of Declan. All flag players and cheerleaders will wear a patch and all tackle football players will have his number on their helmets.
‘We are extremely thankful that each team in SMYAC has offered to honor Declan by having their players wear his number, as well.
‘Always in our hearts and forever a Blue Knight, rest in honor Declan’.
The Blue Crabs have cancelled their upcoming game and are offering counseling to the devastated families.
Courtney Knichel, General Manager of the Blue Crabs, said: ‘Our entire organization shares our condolences with the family mourning the loss of a child, and concern for the child who was injured.’
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with them all,’ she added.
Footage of the incident captured the deflated, upside-down bounce house in the baseball field as shocked players and onlookers gathered to make sense of what had happened.
Witnesses said the inflatable had been secured by stakes hammered into the ground, according to NBC Washington.
In a statement, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs general manager Courtney Knichel said the team ‘shares our condolences with the family mourning the loss of a child, and concern for the child who was injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all.’
Bounce houses cause many injuries each year, with at least 28 deaths and 479 injuries due to wind-related bounce house accidents from 2021 to 2022, according to a study from the University of Georgia.
