A three-year-old girl died after being seriously injured when a bouncy castle was lifted by strong winds during a community event held in a park in Montreal, Canada.

The victim was identified as Ava Ciampini, who was attending a festival held on Tuesday in Ouellette Park, in the province of Quebec, with her family.

According to reports from CTV News, a sudden gust of wind lifted the inflatable structure several meters before the child was ejected and fell to the ground. Ten other people suffered injuries during the incident.

Ava was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, where she later died as a result of her injuries.

“It looked like a war zone”

Witnesses described scenes of chaos after the accident. Gino Moretto, a resident of the community whose granddaughter knew the minor, said that the place was devastated after the strong winds.

"It was horrible. We have never experienced a tragedy like this in our community. It's heartbreaking," he said.

Environment Canada records indicate gusts reached speeds close to 80 kilometers per hour (50 miles per hour) during the day.

The girl's father, Luca Ciampini, said the family is devastated by the loss.

“We are waiting for her to return,” she said when remembering her daughter.

He described her as a happy, intelligent and loving girl who enjoyed making those around her laugh.

"She was a happy, fun and very sweet girl. She always wanted to take care of others," she said.

Ava also had a close relationship with her younger brother, one-year-old Milan, whom she used to hug, entertain, and sing to when he cried.

“He loved his little brother,” his father recalled.

A place full of meaning

The tragedy occurred in the same park where Luca Ciampini began his love story with his wife, Arielle.

According to him, it was there where he invited her to be his girlfriend and later asked her to marry him, which is why the family maintained the tradition of regularly visiting the place.

The family decided to donate the minor's organs so that other people can benefit from her legacy.

“I'm going to make sure she is remembered as a hero,” her father said.

Ava's death caused deep shock in the community. Hundreds of neighbors and friends participated in a vigil held in the park, where they placed flowers, stuffed animals and farewell messages.

Additionally, a fundraising campaign created to support the family has raised hundreds of thousands of Canadian dollars.

The organizers of the tribute described the girl as a luminous presence in the lives of those who knew her.

“It was the light of every room it entered, and the emptiness it left behind is impossible to express in words,” the initiative states.

The Madre Dei Cristiani church, linked to the community event where the accident occurred, also held a religious service in memory of the minor and expressed its condolences to the family.