Jess Wright, best known for her role on the reality television show ‘The Only Way Is Essex’, has recounted a distressing incident involving her four-year-old son, Presley. The young boy was hospitalized after a terrifying mishap during a friend’s birthday celebration, which involved a bouncy castle.
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During an appearance on the daytime programme ‘This Morning’, aired on 16 June, Wright opened up about the “traumatising” experience that has been weighing heavily on both her and her partner since the incident. Reports indicate that Presley was propelled into the air while playing on the bouncy castle, ultimately landing on a hard wooden floor.
Wright vividly described the moment she realised that her son was struggling to breathe. “It was awful and traumatising. We got him outside, and at that point, I just screamed, ‘Call an ambulance!’ because I knew he was coming to,” she recalled, her voice tinged with emotion. In that frightening moment, she observed that Presley’s face had turned blue, escalating her panic. “He started to go blue… and then all of a sudden, I grabbed him off my husband again, and just kind of was saying, ‘Breathe,’ and he came to,” she added.
Following the alarming incident, an ambulance was called, and the family was taken to the emergency room, where Wright expressed concern over potential injuries to Presley’s spine, head, and ribs due to his fall from such a great height. However, upon arrival at the hospital, there was a turn of events. “As soon as he got kind of stretchered in, he started… kind of came to, a bit,” she said. The initial shock appeared to diminish as Presley began to engage with the medical staff.
According to Wright, Presley began to ask questions and interact with the doctors. “He was really scared of going to the hospital, but then he started enjoying the fact there were about seven doctors around him,” she recalled. This apparent improvement allowed Wright to breathe a sigh of relief, as she noted, “Oh my god. I can breathe a bit.”
By June 10, Wright had initially shared the news of Presley’s accident on her social media, later confirming that he was recovering well. “Miraculously, when we arrived the shock had subsided slightly & painkillers kicked in & a few hours later we were released with no injuries other than a few bruises, a very sore little boy & traumatised parents,” she explained in a post.
It is important to note that Presley has a history of health concerns; at the age of two, he was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve, a congenital heart condition that heightened Wright’s anxiety during the incident. “I was more concerned about his health… it was just a freak accident,” she stated, reflecting on the incident.
The reality star emphasised the lessons learned from this frightening experience, stating, “I will say I’ll be more careful in future if the bouncy castle is on a wooden floor as opposed to mats or I guess maybe grass.” She acknowledged the unpredictable nature of such accidents, indicating that while they can occur anywhere, proper precautions are essential for safety.
The family’s ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with children’s play equipment and the need for vigilant supervision. Jess Wright’s candid discussion about the incident not only highlights her apprehension as a parent but also offers a cautionary tale for others. As the family moves forward from this traumatic event, they underscore the importance of safety measures in play environments, particularly when it comes to structures like bouncy castles.