An eight-year-old boy's head became trapped in a fabric basketball hoop inside a HOMCOM bouncy castle, leaving his family 'completely shaken and distressed'. The incident occurred on Sunday, July 12, while the boy was playing in the inflatable at his home in Aintree, Liverpool.
How the Incident Unfolded
Clare Harrison, 38, said her son was jumping inside the bouncy castle when he entered the hoop from underneath. His head became lodged in the fabric ring, and he could not free himself because the bouncy castle kept moving. Several adults supervising nearby rushed to help, using scissors to cut through the hoop to release him.
“He was just playing away and then it happened right in front of my eyes. He got his head stuck in the hoop and couldn't get out. He couldn't twist his body out because the bouncy castle keeps moving up and down,” Harrison told the Liverpool Echo.
Injuries and Aftermath
The boy escaped without serious injuries but had red marks on his neck and shoulders. He was left shaken by the ordeal. Harrison described the incident as “traumatising” and said she had not slept since. “I need people to know because it's such an innocent-looking thing and I want people who have the same bouncy castle to know that it's actually really dangerous,” she said.
She added: “Had he been playing alone, or if help had not arrived so quickly, the outcome could have been tragic.”
Product Details and Availability
The inflatable involved is a HOMCOM Nylon Inflatable Bouncy Castle, marketed for children aged three to 10. It is sold by HOMCOM, a brand owned by Aosom, through the Aosom website and is also available from UK retailers including Wilko, Tesco, The Range, Mountain Warehouse, Yimbly and Viking Direct.
Harrison noted that while other bouncy castles feature basketball hoops, many are designed with an open horseshoe shape rather than a closed loop, which she believes would have made escape easier.
Company Response and Investigation
Harrison reported the incident to HOMCOM on Sunday, urging the company to investigate the product as a “matter of urgency” and consider a recall. In an initial response, HOMCOM apologised for the distress caused and said it would carry out a “full investigation”. As of publication, the bouncy castle remains on sale at Aosom.co.uk and other retailers.
Wilko, where Harrison purchased the bouncy castle in 2024, said it had temporarily suspended sales while investigations are carried out. A Wilko spokesperson said: “We're very sorry to hear about the incident and sincerely hope everyone involved has made a full recovery. The safety of our customers is our highest priority. We were not previously aware of this reported incident and are taking the matter extremely seriously. We've been in contact with our supplier to understand exactly what happened, including reviewing the circumstances surrounding this reported incident and the product's compliance with all relevant safety requirements. While this investigation is ongoing, we have taken the precautionary decision to temporarily suspend sales of the product. We'll continue to work closely with our supplier and will take any further action that may be necessary based on the findings of our investigation.”
The Liverpool Echo has also contacted HOMCOM for a response but has not received one at the time of publication.
