5-year-old dies when he falls out of an airborne bounce house, Maryland cops say

A 5-year-old boy died after a bounce house went airborne, Maryland officials said.

On Aug. 2, Charles County first responders received a call for help at Regency Furniture stadium after a “gust of wind” carried a bounce house with kids inside, causing them to fall out before it landed, according to a news release by the county. The stadium is in Waldorf, a roughly 55-mile drive southwest from Baltimore.

One of the kids inside was later identified as Declan Hicks, according to a Facebook post by La Plata Blue Knights Football and Cheerleading.

The bounce house was carried 15 feet to 20 feet before landing on the field where the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs baseball team was playing, officials said.

“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,” a GoFundMe page said.

Hicks was transported to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead, officials said. Another child suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Hicks played on La Plata Blue Knights flag football team, the team’s Facebook post said.

In honor of Hicks, players will wear the number nine on their helmets, cheerleaders will wear a patch, and the season will be dedicated to him, the team said.

Charles County is about a 70-mile drive southwest from Baltimore.

This story was originally published August 5, 2024 at 1:53 PM with the headline "5-year-old dies when he falls out of an airborne bounce house, Maryland cops say."