A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy who was hurt when an inflatable ride blew over at a Scout camp activity day at Crooklands has been released from hospital.

The boy, from Carlisle, was among four children injured when two large inflatable slides were caught by a ‘freak’ gust of wind at around 3pm on Saturday.

It happened at the Westmorland County Showground, just four hours after television adventurer and UK Chief Scout Bear Grylls had visited around 2,500 Cumbrian Scouts at the ‘Cumbaree’ event.

Cumbria Police said the boy was initially thought to be the most seriously injured after the inflatables ‘blew over’ and was flown by air ambulance to the Royal Preston Hospital.

But further assessment revealed he was not as badly hurt as first feared and had suffered 'soft tissue damage'.

Three other children, including an eight-year-old girl from Carlisle and another boy, were taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary by road with minor injuries and later discharged.

Eyewitnesses said a 'freak' gust of wind caused the inflatables to leave the ground during a hail shower.

The Health and Safety Executive is investigating the incident.

Inflatable activities included a bouncy castle and zorbing, where participants move across a water-filled enclosure in large balls.

Andrew Thorpe, a spokesman for The Scout Association, said the youngsters were taken to hospital 'as a precaution'.

“There was an incident involving two inflatables,” he said.

“The inflatables were supplied and operated by commercial providers.

“Four young people were injured and taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

“Three of the four have been discharged. They suffered bruising.

“Local Scouts will provide all the help needed locally.

“As far as we're concerned, the safety of our young people is our number one priority."

Scouts and Scout leaders from all over Cumbria were at the event, many choosing to camp for the weekend.

Earlier in the day, Bear Grylls paid the enthusiastic youngsters a flying visit, touching down at a rain-soaked county showground by helicopter at lunchtime.

The Born Survivor star was met with cheers and, aboard a Bay Search and Rescue Hangglund vehicle, circled the showfield, high-fiving his followers and later signing autographs and posing for photographs.

His visit was part of a whistle-stop tour of Scout camps across the North West this weekend in a drive to promote the Scouting movement across the UK.

The internationally-renowed personality's new TV show, Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls, premieres on American network NBC in July.