Toddler in critical condition after inflatable castle flies during severe thunderstorm

Two children and four adults are in hospital after an inflatable play structure blew away in Ouellette Park in Montreal's LaSalle borough on Sunday, May 31, 2026. (Ken Dow/CTV News)

A three-year-old child is in critical condition after a severe thunderstorm swept through the Greater Montreal area on Sunday, causing some damage and sending several people to the hospital.

Urgences-Santé says it received a 911 call at 4:25 p.m. about an inflatable play structure that had blown away in Ouellette Park in the borough of LaSalle.

A borough worker later told CTV News that the castle flew an estimated 12 feet in the air.

When paramedics arrived at the scene, they evaluated 11 people, sending six of them to hospital, including four adults and two children, one of whom remains in critical condition.

“I was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic accident that occurred late [Sunday] afternoon during a family gathering at Ouellette Park,” said LaSalle Mayor Nancy Blanchet. “My heart goes out to the families, loved ones, and everyone affected, directly or indirectly, by this terrible event.”

She notes that authorities are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and “any necessary measures will be considered.”

“Our entire community is deeply shaken by this serious accident,” Blanchet said. “Please know that the safety of the public, particularly that of children, remains a priority.”

Across town in Montreal’s Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough, first responders were also called after a large tree collapsed onto at least two parked cars on Leclaire Street between Adam and Sainte-Catherine streets.

There were no reported injuries.

Over the weekend, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) had issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Montreal, Laval, Longueuil-Varennes and Châteauguay-La Prairie areas, “capable of producing strong wind gusts, up to quarter-size hail and heavy rain.”

“Take immediate cover if a thunderstorm approaches,” the agency had insisted. “If outside, protect yourself from flying debris and hail.”

Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are expected to produce damaging hail, wind or rain.