A girl who was thrown from a giant inflatable slide at a Fife gala last weekend had only just started to walk without crutches following a cancer battle.
Six-year-old Summer Wroniecki was thrown around “like a rag doll” after the inflatable she was playing on was ripped from its moorings during high winds at Cupar Children’s Gala.
The youngster who had only recently ditched her walking aids after a major hip operation due to damage caused by radiotherapy was thrown into a nearby fairground ride as the inflatable blew through Duffus Park.
Her mother Karen said: “She had started swimming and had even gone back to dancing class, which she adores.
“Of all the people there last week, why did it have to happen to her? It’s just so hard to believe this happened after everything she’s been through.
“We were looking forward to her getting back to a degree of normality before this happened.”
The inflatable slide Summer was on slipped its moorings in a freak gust of wind and it was hurled across the park, knocking people to the side.
Four others were treated for minor injuries but the Cupar girl was badly hurt in the accident.
Summer was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at age three.
Her family had planned to hold a fundraising event called Summer’s Wee Walk the day after the gala, to raise money for a respite centre in St Andrews for children fighting cancer, but they were forced to cancel it following the accident.
Her father Chris said: “The things she’s been through in such a short life are heart-breaking but she’s strong, as are the whole family.
“We have no choice but to get on with things.
“We had hoped to go on holiday in July and we are still hoping that will be the case. Hopefully her leg will be better by then.
“It’s important that Summer and her brother Brody have a normal life and her illness doesn’t define their childhood.”
A Fife Council spokesman said the findings of a preliminary investigation have been passed to the Health and Safety Executive.