SANDY — Two boys were seriously injured Friday when a summer camp outside a recreation center was hit by microburst winds and a bouncy castle was thrown into the air, fire officials said.

Liz Sollis, spokeswoman for the Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation Department, said it was the last day of summer camp at the Dimple Dell Recreation Center and staff had set up a bouncy castle and water slide outside.

According to Sollis, around 3 p.m. a stronger wind started to pick up, and staff began to get the children out of the bouncy castle attached to the ground.

Sollis said one child did not come out before the wind blew the house away.

Brian Jones was about a block away when he heard children screaming. He looked north and saw the bounce house looming between two trees.

“It’s got to be 20 feet high,” Jones said. “I think there’s kids over there screaming and the wind’s coming up and the bouncy house is flying around – that’s trouble.”

He said he rushed to the recreation center to see if he could help.

“A girl was trying to comfort another girl who was crying,” he recalls. “A little boy was in trouble. I went to help him and it was hard.”

Workers deflate a bouncy castle that was blown away by winds in Sandy on August 9, 2024. (Mark Less, KSL TV)

Sollis said a child was trapped and rescued by emergency responders. Sandy firefighters said a 10-year-old boy was seriously injured and taken by ambulance to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.

“(First responders) came, stabilized his condition and took him away,” Jones said. “I’m praying for the best for him, man.”

A 6-year-old suffered a leg injury and was taken to Primary Children’s Hospital-Lehi, Sandy City Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Bullock said.

“We are very concerned and want to make sure that no one gets hurt while participating in our program,” Sollis said.

Jones said he wasn’t sure what else could have been done about the microburst winds that came virtually out of nowhere.

“It was just like that,” Jones said. “They can come unexpectedly and without warning, and they’re just strong, strong winds.”

Bullock said other children were injured in the accident, but they only suffered minor injuries and went home with their parents.