Gender reveal party ends in tragedy
(KNOXVILLE, Iowa)
Gender reveal parties are designed to announce the sex of an expectant couple’s baby by surprising guests with either pink or blue decorations.
Families have become ever more creative with their announcements, and the family in Iowa decided to create an explosion, which would shower coloured powder into the air.
But the celebration went horribly wrong. Pamela Kreimeyer died instantly after she was struck in the head by a piece of metal from the device that was intended to reveal the sex of the baby, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement issued on Monday.
Ms Kreimeyer, whose relationship with the unnamed parents is unknown, had gathered with friends in Knoxville, Iowa, to find out whether the baby would be a boy or a girl.
The family had been trying for several days to create a device that could shoot coloured powder into the air to indicate the gender of the baby, the statement said Gunpowder was placed in the bottom of a homemade stand that was welded to a metal base.
Ms Kreimeyer, who was standing 45 feet from the device, was struck in the head and killed.
“Our investigation showed that members of the Kreimeyer family were experimenting with different types of explosive material on Friday and Saturday in an attempt to record a gender reveal that could be posted on social media for friends and family,” the statement said.
The projectile that struck her continued 144 yards farther through the air and landed in a field, the statement said. Jason Sandholdt, sheriff of the country, said her death was being treated as an accident.
“This family got together for what they thought was going to be a happy event with no intent for anyone to get hurt,” he said.
“This is a reminder that any time someone mixes these things there is a high potential for serious injury or death. Please do not take these unnecessary risks.”
While we don't know Sheriff Jason Sandholdt we are sure he would recommend leaving gender reveal cannons to the professionals.
Contact us today or simply order your gender reveal party confetti cannons online for fast order dispatch so you can spread the great news quickly!