Guilty pleas over Ava-May Gorleston beach trampoline death

Ava-May Littleboy, from Lower Somersham in Suffolk, died in hospital after the inflatable trampoline she was playing on exploded on the sands at Gorleston on July 1, 2018.

The trampoline was operated as one of several inflatable items in a beach compound by a company called Johnsons Funfair Ltd, which traded as Bounceabout. 

People gather on Gorleston beach to mark the one week anniversary of the tragic event leading to the death of Ava-May Littleboy. Byline: Sonya Duncan (Image: ARCHANT EASTERN DAILY PRESS (01603) 772434)

The trampoline had been imported from its Chinese manufacturer in 2017.

On Thursday, Johnsons Funfair Ltd, trading as Bounceabout, admitted two charges under Section 3 and Section 6 of the Health and Safety Act 1974 at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in Essex.

Acting as operations manager of Johnsons Funfair, Curt Johnson also admitted two breaches under the same act.

READ MORE: Tributes paid to Ava-May

It is said operating and safety instructions were not obtained for the inflatables and there was no specific risk assessment for the trampoline.

It is also said the trampoline had never had independent third party certification, there was no proper written procedure for setting up the inflatables, including the trampoline, and there were young people employed as assistants without the work permits required under legislation to employ persons of their ages. 

Little Ava-May was hurled 20 feet in the air before landing on the sand. She later died from her injuries at James Paget University Hospital.

The inquest into her death found she died of a traumatic head injury.

Her family had been staying at the Wild Duck holiday park in Belton where Ava-May's grandparents had a holiday home

The sentencing over her death will be held at the same court in November.