A toddler’s third birthday celebration took a terrifying turn when a wooden deck collapsed beneath partygoers in West Des Moines, Iowa, just as the birthday boy was about to blow out his Spider-Man-themed candles. Shocking footage captured the moment the deck gave way, sending dozens of family and friends tumbling.
Hilary and Tony Loffredo, parents of the young boy, were hosting the celebration for about 20 guests when the structure suddenly crumbled. “The kids were crying and we all were screaming, ‘Oh my gosh, what do we do?’” Hilary said, per Daily Mail. The guests had gathered around the cake when the deck split, trapping several adults between the fallen deck and the house. “We were passing the kids from person to person up to the house to get them safe because we weren’t sure when the other part of the deck was going to fall and collapse,” Hilary explained.
Deck Collapse Declared Mass Casualty Incident
Emergency services rushed to the scene, and due to the number of people involved, the West Des Moines Fire Department elevated the situation to a mass casualty incident, deploying additional fire trucks and ambulances. Fortunately, there were no life-threatening injuries. Tony sustained a gash on his knee requiring stitches, the most severe injury reported. “I looked down just under my knee and it’s just blood running down… Obviously, it could have been way worse,” he said.
Fire Marshal Mike Whitsell described the scene as “very scary,” noting that while deck collapses are rare, they’re not impossible. “How old is your deck? Do you have rotted boards? Have you had your deck inspected?” he asked, advising homeowners to take precautions. The Loffredos said they bought the home in 2019, unaware the previous owners had constructed the deck themselves. “Apparently, some corners were cut, some things were forgotten,” Hilary revealed, adding that a recent inspection had flagged structural concerns.
Despite the chaos, the family made sure their son’s special day wasn’t ruined. “We rushed out to the store and just bought a cake. We sang Happy Birthday to him, not here; we went to Spare Time and did it. He was so excited. All he cared about was the cake,” Hilary said.
In a follow-up Facebook post, she thanked first responders and shared that two fire trucks, an ambulance, and five police cars arrived on the scene. “It could have been much worse,” she wrote. “I don’t think the Birthday Boy, or any of us, are going to forget this birthday party for a long time!”
