Woman killed in freak 'jumping balloon' accident after being flung into the air and landing on her head

A Filipino mother of two was killed in a freak accident after she was flung into the air off an inflatable sea raft and landed on her head at a resort in Cebu on July 11.

Multiple local and foreign outlets, including Daily Mail and Cebu Daily News, reported that Catherine Egam Mcewan, 43, of Cagayan De Oro was on a "jumping balloon" activity with her British husband, Ken, and their children at Pinky's Floating Cottage on Olango Island.

Mcewan was reportedly lying on one end of the inflatable sea raft before a staff member landed on the other end from a towering railing.

She was launched into the air but instead of plunging into the water with a splash, she slammed her head onto the inflatable's surface, cracking her neck and rolling into the sea.

Lifeguards waited for her to resurface, but she remained motionless underwater.

One of them rushed to drag her back to shore. The lifeguard swam frantically out into the open water, where Mcewan's body eventually floated near the balloon.

She was taken to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and remained in a coma until her death on July 19.

Her death certificate states she died of a "spinal injury due to extreme water sports."

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan issued a cease-and-desist order to the resort pending police investigation and review of safety measures, per Philippine News Agency.

Chan said there will be a meeting with all operators next week to discuss the incident, including safety practices.

The resort manager, meanwhile, said all visitors are given instructions before trying the jumping balloon.

They also vowed to shoulder Mcewan's medical and burial expenses.