A leading paediatrician has questioned whether Australia should ban bouncy castles, in light of research showing many fatal incidents are caused by unpredictable wind gusts. 

Associate Professor Elizabeth Elliott, from Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, Westmead, and colleagues reviewed jumping castle injuries following the tragic deaths of six children in Tasmania in December.

Another three children were seriously injured when the inflatable device was lifted 10 metres from the ground in a gust of wind during end of year celebrations at a Launceston primary school.

“This incident highlights potential serious health consequences associated with jumping or bouncy castles or inflatable bouncers,” wrote Professor Elliott, Professor Guy Eslick and Dr Carlos Nunez (PhD) in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health.