Child dies after falling ill at Flip Out Glasgow

A child has tragically passed away after falling ill at Flip Out Glasgow, a popular trampoline playground offering attractions such as trampolining, a bouncy castle, e-karting, and laser quest.

The incident occurred this morning, and despite the efforts of paramedics, the child was declared dead at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.

Authorities have labelled the death as ‘unexplained’, though they do not suspect any foul play. The Health and Safety Executive has been notified about the incident which took place in Rutherglen, Lanarkshire.

Witnesses reported hearing ‘hysterical screaming’ from the bouncy castle area shortly before emergency services arrived around 11am. One witness commented on social media, describing the chaos as staff rushed to respond.

Customers were evacuated from the area where the child fell ill, and the site was subsequently closed to the public. Several police vehicles were still present at the scene in the afternoon.

A woman who was present during the incident said she saw an ambulance and a first response car parked at the back of the venue. Another attendee mentioned seeing multiple ambulances and police cars while there for a nephew’s party.

The playground informed customers that certain attractions were off-limits before ultimately shutting down the entire facility. Flip Out Glasgow has yet to determine when it will reopen and has asked patrons with pre-booked sessions to contact them for rescheduling.

In a statement on social media, Flip Out Glasgow expressed apologies for the inconvenience and advised customers to monitor their channels for reopening updates.

Some visitors were unaware of the unfolding tragedy. One individual, a nurse, expressed regret for not being able to assist. Another visitor shared their condolences, noting the unexpected nature of such a tragic event on a family outing.

A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed ongoing inquiries into the incident, which happened shortly before 11:00 on Sunday, 18 August 2024, on Southcroft Road, Rutherglen. The death remains unexplained, and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. The Health and Safety Executive has also been informed.