Pictured: Girl, three, killed when she was thrown 20ft from exploding inflatable trampoline as tributes are paid to the ‘little princess’
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Pictured: Girl, three, killed when she was thrown 20ft from exploding inflatable trampoline as tributes are paid to the ‘little princess’
The first pictures have emerged of a three-year-old girl who was killed after being thrown 20ft in the air from an exploding inflatable trampoline yesterday.
Ava-May Littleboy, who later died in hospital, was seen rocketing into the air and flying back down after witnesses heard the sound of an ‘explosion’ in Gorleston, Norfolk.
Her mother, Chloe Littleboy, 25, screamed as she watched her daughter fall.
The family paid tribute to her, describing her as ‘the little girl that loved life.’
In a statement released by Norfolk Police, they said: ‘She was not your ordinary little girl, as anyone she met, she would leave a lasting impression on.
‘Anyone that met her would not want to forget her.
‘Her infectious laugh and smile could light up even the darkest of rooms.
‘She was the little girl that loved life.
Family and friends of the little girl have paid tribute to her and set up a JustGiving page asking for donations for a park bench in her honour.
Her aunt, Laura Reid, 28, said ‘I will love you always and forever. Sleep tight my little angel. My everything my princess! My heart is broken’.
People have sent well-wishes and donations to the family online.
One wrote: ‘This story broke my heart. No parent should have to experience such tragedy. My thoughts are with you. Rest in paradise little Abbie’.
Another said: ‘So Tragic. Thoughts and prays for the family and all affected. Life is so fragile and precious, every moment should be valued and treasured. God rest your soul darling child.’
Her other aunt, Abbie Littleboy, 21, said: ‘Me and our family would like to build a memorial bench for our little Ava, please take a read of our story and help raise money for our beautiful angel’
Families have spoken of their horror as they watched bystanders attempting to catch the girl before paramedics and a lifeguard attempted to her.
The child was visiting the area from Suffolk in the heatwave.
Dozens of floral tributes and teddy bears have been left at the scene today after mourners turned up to pay their respects to the girl and her family.
The owner of the play equipment, Curt Johnson also paid tribute.
He told the BBC: ‘We are in complete shock and send our deepest condolences to the family.
‘We are in bits and totally devastated, we can’t sleep, can’t eat, feel sick to the core.’
Police revealed on Monday the girl was the only person on the trampoline at the time.
But the little girl was thrown into the air when the giant inflatable appeared to explode.
She had been playing on the trampoline in a section of the beach called Bounce About, which also has an inflatable slide, traditional trampolines and a rodeo ride.
A witness who returned to the scene described seeing the girl’s mother screaming for help after watching her daughter get thrown from the trampoline.
The 91-year-old man, who asked not to be named, said: ‘If you put two 6ft people on top of each other she still would have flown way above them.
‘She shot way up into the air – easily more than 20ft and landed in the sand. The mother ran up just screaming and crying for help. The people acted together.
‘One girl called the police and people were clearing the path. The explosion was like a big gun. I was in the Navy and I can tell you that it was an enormous bang.’
He described the public’s response to the incident as ‘excellent’, adding: ‘The lifeguard nearby was great. He straight away left the chair and came across.
‘One girl gave her mouth to mouth and pressure CPR. The people were good and stayed back and kept their distance.’
Zoe Dye, 32, was just 20 metres away from the trampoline playing with her 11-year-old daughter Tiffany when the explosion occurred.
She said: ‘Literally there were screams from everyone on the beach and it was almost like slow motion.
‘When the little girl was in the air no one could have done anything but people jumped up to try and catch her but she just dropped.
‘It was everyone’s instinct just to try and catch her. My little girl described what she saw as something from a horror film and she is very upset.
‘But it was the case of everyone on the beach just ran. People were over there, people were helping, people were trying to get defibrillators and nobody could do anymore than they did. It was brilliant that everyone just pulled together.
‘The little girl was tiny. I know that she was three but she looked younger than that.’
The hole in the ground remains where Ms Dye and Tiffany were digging on the beach.
Ms Dye added: ‘I had just taken a photo of my little girl who was digging that hole up. We were just playing and having a good day.
‘She had a week away at school so I thought I would bring her down for a day at the beach to play about and the massive explosion happened.
‘The seconds to follow were just horrific. I called an ambulance and so did many others. The emergency services were brilliant and were here in minutes. The lifeguard too- he did not stop and did absolutely everything that he could.
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