FEET FIRMLY ON THE GROUND: Vickie Walker with her grandchildren Kyle Warburton and Bailey Peckham and the remnants of their trampoline that went flying through the air and crashed into their fence on Tuesday. Photo: Steve Gosch 0118sgtrampoline1
ORANGE resident Vickie Walker thinks the builder behind her house should have bought himself a lottery ticket after he narrowly avoided being hit by flying trampolines on Tuesday.
While the sight of a trampoline flying through the air at about 12 metres was comical, it quickly dawned on Mrs Walker just how dangerous the situation was as a neighbour’s trampolines ended up in the front yard of a house four numbers down the street.
Unbelievably, her own trampoline rose into the air at the same time only to career into her back fence.
Two flying trampolines in the space of a couple of minutes.
“It was a beautiful day and no wind,” she said.
“I just could not believe it, it was shocking.”
Mrs Walker said it was not the first time she had seen trampolines in the sky. It had happened to her twice already while she was living out of town but she assumed she would never have a problem in the middle of the city.
It was a valuable lessoned learnt for the grandmother of four as she realised what might have happened if her grandchildren had been outside or, worse, if they had been on the trampoline as it went flying through the air.
“On the box it says it weighs 180 kilograms, if a child was on it it would take them with it,” she said.
Mrs Walker hoped her story would serve as a warning for people to secure trampolines to the ground.
She doubts whether she will replace the equipment.
“I doubt if my husband will let me,” she said.