Waterspout Bounces Bounce House On Ft. Lauderdale Beach

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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - Several children were injured after a waterspout lifted a bounce house up into the air near the Bahia Mar on Ft. Lauderdale beach.

Cellphone video from several people on the beach shows the waterspout come in off the water around 801 Seabreeze Boulevard, travel across the sand, topple a canopy covering and then hit a large bounce house.

The bounce house initially tumbled over several times as the waterspout moved inland. It then lifted approximately 15 feet into the air before slamming into the ground across A1A.

"It was disturbing to see the bounce house go up and the kids, and the kids falling out like Tonka Toys. It didn't look real," said witness Reggie Murphy.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue said four children were injured, and three were taken to the hospital.

CLICK HERE To Watch Carey Codd's Report 

Family members of two of the children thrown from the bounce house spoke with CBS4's Carey Codd.

Tameka Dent said she feared the worst after her 6-year-old daughter Shamoya Ferguson and her 11-year-old stepson A.J. Dent were thrown in the air.

"I was crying going, 'Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. I can't believe this" said Tameka Dent.

When she rushed to her child, the children had cuts and bruises on their faces. A family member showed us a photo of Ferguson with a nasty bump on her head. AJ Dent's mother said her son suffered a fractured wrist.

"I seen them laying on the ground. I seen the basketball goals tore up and poles tore down. Just look crazy," said their father, Hubert Dent.

The family said they saw the waterspout forming, and before they knew it the bounce house, with the children inside, flew in the air.

"I saw the bounce house lift up in the air and it was spinning around. I ran because it was coming towards me…that's when I saw my two cousins fell out on the sand," said Jammelia Wray, the cousin of Shamoya.

WEB EXTRA: Beach Goer Video Tapes Waterspout Flinging Bounce House 

Family members said police and first responders arrived quickly and stabilized the children. Both kids were alert and conscious.

Hubert Dent told Codd that doctors released A.J. He added that Shamoya had X-rays done and will be kept overnight for observation.

There were lots of questions over how the bounce house could get airborne with kids inside.

"I want to know if it was secured. If it was secured, would it have helped?" said the children's aunt, Gabriella Pinnock.

Authorities confirmed the bounce house was secured.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those children that were injured in this incident," said Fort Lauderdale Police Sgt. Deanna Greenlaw. "We are extremely fortunate that there weren't any additional injuries."

Family members say AJ Dent was released from the hospital as was another child. Family members say Samoya Ferguson is being kept overnight for observation.