Bouncy castle supervision 'vital'

By Sallie George
BBC News, England

Sam Harris was left brain damaged after being kicked on a bouncy castle

Supervision of children playing on bouncy castles or other inflatables is "absolutely vital" to ensure their safety, an industry spokesman has said.

Mark Jerram, the founder of The British Inflatable Hirers Alliance (BIHA), said an incident involving a teenager left brain damaged after being kicked on a bouncy castle was a "tragic, but rare accident".

He said he did not think the ruling would have a long-term detrimental effect on bouncy castle operators.

But, he said, the decision to approve a claim for damages against the couple who hired out the inflatable was symptomatic of a "blame culture".

Sam Harris, now 13, of Spalding, Lincolnshire, suffered a broken skull when a 15-year-old kicked his head at a party in Strood, Kent, in 2005.

This is the first time as far as I know that a claim has been brought against the parents that hosted a party Mark Jerram, BIHA

A High Court judge ruled on Thursday that the couple who hired it for their children's party, Timothy and Catherine Perry, had not provided enough supervision.

Mr Jerram said: "The ruling didn't come as a total surprise because of the fact we live in a blame culture.

"The judge was probably under pressure to find somebody to blame for it.

"But I think, though obviously it was a very tragic accident, one has to put it in context.

There are approximately one million bookings in a year, which illustrates how rare an event it actually is."

Mr Jerram said operators were already under an obligation to the public to tell them to supervise children at all times.

The teenager's mother said life had been a struggle since her son's injury

He said: "I don't think it will have an effect, because bouncy castles are so popular.

"But it will reinforce and put into peoples' minds that they have to be a lot more safety conscious.

"Continuous supervision is absolutely vital where children are involved.

"Bouncy castle operators need to tell parents who hire them that they must supervise the castle continuously at all times.

"This is the first time as far as I know that a claim has been brought against the parents that hosted a party.

"Normally action is brought against the operator, and the vast majority of operators are insured."

Damages in this case, for which Mr and Mrs Perry are insured, are likely to exceed £1m.

Insurance company Norwich Union said damages claims of this nature would be covered under a home contents insurance.

A spokesman said: "On our contents insurance, customers have up to £2m for liability cover, which includes negligence but not recklessness.

"Any situation like this would be treated on a case by case basis."