Inflatable calamity

A gust of wind sent a celebration by the Oceanside United Soccer Club into chaos on last Saturday, when the inflatable rides the club had rented for children were lifted off the ground and rolled across the field at School 9E.

According to Oceanside Fire Department spokesman Ed Scharfberg, a call came in shortly before 12:30 p.m. that the rides — two bouncing houses and an inflatable slide — had gone airborne, injuring the children inside them as well as people outside. Scharfberg said that the OFD responded to the scene with two ambulances and ladder truck.

“We called mutual aid from Long Beach, Island Park, Lawrence Cedarhurst, Hewlett, East Rockaway, Baldwin and Rockville Centre,” Scharfberg said, adding that the Nassau County Police Department also sent three ambulances. Of the 17 people injured, he said, paramedics transported 13 to local hospitals, and four were taken by car. One woman, Cathleen Hughes, was seriously hurt.

The Nassau County District Attorney’s Economic Crimes Bureau is investigating the incident. Chris Munzing, a spokesman for the D.A.’s office, asked that anyone with details of the incident call (516) 571-2149.

Witnesses said that the day was calm, but there were reports from John F. Kennedy International Airport — the nearest weather monitoring station — of gusts of wind as strong as 26 mph that afternoon.

Fredene Gridelli, an Island Park resident, was at School 9 because her grandson plays soccer. While her son, daughter and grandson were on one side of the field, Gridelli took her 3-year-old granddaughter, Cathryn Evans, to the inflatables.

“She was playing around and I was around the side watching her,” Gridelli recounted. “And in an instant, a gust of wind came and ripped the three inflatables from the ground. The slide went flying. Her Bouncy Ride, the front of it flipped over to the back. And then, with the help of 20 or 30 people, they uprighted the ride and the kids were able to get out.”

Gridelli said that Cathryn bruised her back, and later spent six hours in the emergency room.

The event was celebrating the last day of the soccer season. The club usually gives out trophies to the teams and players, invites the families of the children to play and offers food and rides.