7-Year-Old Boy Dies After Bounce House Is Suddenly Blown into the Air, Throwing Him into Fence
7-Year-Old Boy Dies After Bounce House Is Suddenly Blown into the Air, Throwing Him into Fence
Gabrielle RocksonMon, May 11, 2026 at 2:21 PM UTC
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Jean Kylian Essombe
Credit: Jeugd Eendracht Elene Grotenberge/Facebook
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A 7-year-old boy died after a bounce house was blown into the air at a soccer tournament in Belgium on Saturday, May 9
Three other children were also taken to the hospital with minor injuries
Authorities are investigating whether the bounce house was properly secured and compliant with safety regulations, according to a local media outlet
A 7-year-old boy has died and three other children were injured after a bounce house was blown into the air in Belgium.
On Saturday, May 9, Jean Kylian Essombe was at a soccer tournament with his team SK Wambeek-Ternat when a bounce house that several kids were playing on suddenly flew into the air, according to local outlets Het Laatste Nieuws and Gazet van Antwerpen and La Dépêche.
Essombe sustained life-threatening injuries after hitting a fence, and later died in the hospital, per Het Laatste Nieuws.
The young, who played for SK Wambeek Ternat's under-eights team, was at the event to support his younger brother when the incident occurred around 2 p.m. local time, per Gazet van Antwerpen.
According to the public prosecutor's office, the bounce house was blown into the air by a gust of wind, per the outlets.
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“It was a tragic accident. From what I have heard, the bouncy castle reportedly hit a pole due to a gust of wind, although I do not have complete certainty about that yet," Jos Donvil, chairman of SK Wambeek-Ternat, told Het Laatste Nieuws.
Mayor Lotte Peeters told the outlet Het Laatste Nieuws that the other children were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
“We haven't heard anything more about that, so we assume their injuries are limited,” Peeters said.
The public prosecutor's office is investigating whether the bounce house was fixed in compliance with regulations, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.
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The tournament was being held at the facilities of local soccer club VW Hamme,La Dépêche reported.
Paying tribute on Facebook, SK Wambeek-Ternat wrote, “It is with deep sadness that we received the news of Jean (U8). It is hard to comprehend that someone so young and full of life has left us.”
Jean Kylian Essombe
Credit: Jeugd Eendracht Elene Grotenberge/Facebook
“Jean was not only a talented player, but above all a wonderful friend, always full of enthusiasm and with a smile on his face. We will never forget the joy he shared. Our thoughts are with the parents, his brother Louis (U10), family, and friends during this difficult time. 🖤🖤🖤,” they wrote.
VW Hamme also wrote on Facebook, “What should have been a momentous day at our club has unfortunately been completely overshadowed by a tragic accident. We have full confidence in the ongoing investigation.”
Sign and logo of Ghent University Hospital
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“Our thoughts go out to the family, friends, and team of our friend who fought so hard but sadly did not overcome his injuries and passed away at the University Hospital in Ghent,” they added.
In another update, the club confirmed that “all training sessions and club activities” would be canceled in the upcoming week.
“We have already been in contact with the parents and we will follow this up with all serenity,” chairman Jos Donvil told Gazet van Antwerpen.
"I have since heard that they are a pleasant family with great children. He managed well at our club,” he added. “But that is all secondary to the suffering that has occurred. His younger brother, who also plays with us, has lost his playmate.”
Hamme-Waasmunster police are investigating the incident, according to the outlet.
PEOPLE reached out to Belgium's Federal Public Prosecutor's Office and Hamme-Waasmunster police for comment.
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