Sixth child dies as a result of Tasmanian jumping castle tragedy as operator shuts down website

An 11-year-old boy has become the sixth fatality of Devonport’s Hillcrest Primary School tragedy as the hire company which is understood to have supplied the inflatable that was involved in the accident has removed its website and social media pages.

Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine announced yesterday that the boy had died in hospital on Sunday morning, bringing to six the number of deaths among a group of children playing on a jumping castle during year-end celebrations on Thursday when a gust of wind sent it 10 metres into the air.

Commissioner Hine told reporters in Hobart “it is with a heavy heart that I can confirm a sixth child has lost his life following the tragedy.”

Two children remain in a critical condition in Royal Hobart Hospital and another child is in recovery at home.

Commissioner Hine went on to advise that an investigation into the incident by Tasmanian Police in conjunction with WorkSafe Tasmania is now underway, adding “we are working tirelessly with all parties concerned to ensure the extensive investigation is completed as a matter of priority for the Coroner.

“Their priority will be to interview all witnesses, gather and analyse forensic evidence at all in biomedical aspects including weather patterns and conditions of the time of this incident.”

He had earlier noted that there were close to 40 Year 5 and 6 students taking part in the end-of-term activities at the time of the incident.

While some reports have suggested a freak gust of wind made the jumping castle leave the ground, Australian Bureau of Meteorology data from nearby Devonport on Thursday indicated wind speeds near Hillcrest Primary did not exceed 39.6km/h - the wind speed above which standards say landborne inflatable devices should not be operated.

Key to the investigation will be how the jumping castle was anchored, with Commissioner Hine acknowledging “at this stage we don’t know how this particular castle was anchored down.”

With the Tasmanian Department of Education having announced a ban on jumping castles at all state schools following the incident, Taz-Zorb, the Launceston-based hire company which is understood to have supplied the inflatable that was involved in the accident, as well as zorb balls for the school event, has removed its website and Facebook pages, although the owner’s LinkedIn profile remains active.

The company’s website previously featured photos of zorb balls and a crayon-themed jumping castle, promoting it as being “brand new to Tasmania”.

ASIC documents show the company, Taz-Zorb, was registered in 2012, with a renewal date of May 2024.

Amid cancellations of jumping castle hires around the country, the Australian Amusement Association (AAA) has highlighted that inflatable devices “are not dangerous if they're operated correctly."

AAA spokesman Damian De Jong said the industry was "highly regulated" and problems generally only arose when "backyard operators" did not follow regulations.

As quoted by local Tasmanian newspaper the Northern Beaches Review, De Jong stated “from one incident, this is now going to impact us all. But just hope there's a balanced debate, not just calls for bans. Our industry has been very safe for a long time.

"(Jumping castle) are not dangerous if they're operated correctly."

Shane McGrath, President of the Australian Amusement, Leisure and Recreation Association (AALARA), which on Thursday advised that Taz-Zorb was not in its membership, said the Association had been rocked by the tragedy.

As quoted by local Tasmanian newspaper the Northern Beaches Review, McGrath stated “we are devastated ... guest safety is and will always remain the number one priority for our members - it is an area our industry must continually challenge itself on, to ensure the highest standards are met."

SafeWork Australia says devices can become airborne during strong wind gusts if jumping castles aren’t set up and operated correctly.

Its advice emphasises that inflatable devices should be secured and anchored with anchor points provided according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited the School on Saturday, along with his wife Jenny, laying flowers at the site.

Earlier in Hobart, he pledged $800,000 in funding to provide counselling and mental health support to the tight-knit Tasmanian community.

$1 million has also been raised for the families of the victims through a GoFundMe page set up to help support the family and process their grief through the Christmas period.

Images: A jumping castle understood to be similar to the one at the centre of yesterday's tragedy (top) and the aftermath of an inflatable slide lifted into the air in Sydney in 2019 (below, courtesy of 7 News Sydney).