Jumping castle blows into air; 1 child dead

**Saint Willy** · 16-12-2021, 08:50 AM

A child has died and several others are in a critical condition after wind picked up a jumping castle and threw it into the air at an end-of-year activity day at a Tasmanian primary school.
Key points:

A child has died and several others are seriously injured after wind blew a jumping castle 10m into the air at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport
The school was hosting end-of-year celebrations when the incident occurred
The school has been closed and parents rushed to the scene to collect their children

Several children fell from a height of 10 metres, causing serious injuries, when wind blew the jumping castle into the air at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, in the state's north-west.
"A wind event caused a jumping castle to lift into the air," Tasmanian police said in a statement.
"Several children fell from a height of about 10 metres around 10am and are currently receiving medical treatment at the scene as well as in hospitals.
"Sadly, one child has died and a number of others are critical."
Police said no further details about the fatality could be released at this stage for privacy reasons.

Police officers comfort each other at the scene of the fatal accident.(ABC News: Monte Bovill)As well as multiple ambulances sent to the school, several helicopters also went to the scene to take the injured to various hospitals.
It is not yet known how many children have been injured.
Police will hold a media conference to give updates early this afternoon.
Witnesses said it was a very confronting scene with police and parents rushing towards the school.
Many parents arrived at the school not knowing if their child had been affected.

The school has closed for the rest of the day.(ABC News: Monte Bovill)Blue tarps were erected near the tree where the jumping castle came to a rest, close to the school oval.
People are being asked to avoid the area.
The school was running an end-of-year "Big Day In" celebration instead of a usual school picnic.

Emergency workers at the scene were visibly upset.(ABC News: Monte Bovill)Tasmania's Premier Peter Gutwein was at a COVID-19 press conference in Hobart just after the incident.
He described it as "serious".
"My thoughts are obviously with the people involved but obviously the parents of the children that have been injured and with the emergency services," he said.
"As we receive further information on what I understand is a very serious matter we'll provide that as the day progresses

https://www.xxx.xxx.xx/news/2021-12-16/jumping-castle-hillcrest-primary-school-child-dies/100704754?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=conte nt_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_web

**Saint Willy** · 16-12-2021, 09:33 AM

Updates indicate a second child has died. Nightmare for parents and the school.

**Headworx** · 16-12-2021, 09:41 AM

Jesus Christ I would have thought standard procedure rule #1 would have been to anchor those things to the ground no matter what the weather was like

**Saint Willy** · 16-12-2021, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by Headworx

Jesus Christ I would have thought standard procedure rule #1 would have been to anchor those things to the ground no matter what the weather was like

Agreed. But I'm guessing aint no license needed and any pimply 16 year old carny can start a jumping castle hire business.

**Troy** · 16-12-2021, 11:36 AM

^ Something similar happened about 5 years ago in the UK, one child was blown away, and the owners of the bouncy castle were charged with gross negligence.

You'd have thought the regulations everywhere would have been tightened after that tragedy.

**harrybarracuda** · 16-12-2021, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by Troy

You'd have thought the regulations everywhere would have been tightened after that tragedy.

Along with the guy ropes.

**Troy** · 16-12-2021, 01:31 PM

BBC reporting four dead now and another five badly injured.

Just before Christmas as well, horrible.

**AntRobertson** · 16-12-2021, 02:37 PM

Just tragic. Can't even imagine what the parents are going through.

**harrybarracuda** · 16-12-2021, 03:29 PM

No doubt will go down as a "freak accident", but I can't help but think with that death toll that this may result in charges as in the third link.

China bouncy castle: Dust devil kills two children and injures 20 people - BBC News

Girl dies after being thrown from '''exploding''' bouncy castle - BBC News

Bouncy castle death pair jailed for three years - BBC News

**Looper** · 16-12-2021, 04:38 PM

ABC reporting that it is now 5 children who have died

Tragedy - RIP

Five children die, several others critically injured after jumping castle blown into air at Tasmanian school

Five children have died and four others remain in hospital after wind picked up a jumping castle and threw it into the air at an end-of-year activity day at a Tasmanian primary school.

Jumping castle blows into air; 1 child dead-80bb7c586fd5bb837ec096d65a747bc2-jpg

WARNING: This story contains details of the incident and photographs that some readers may find distressing.
Key points:

Wind blew a jumping castle 10m into the air at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport
The school was hosting end-of-year celebrations when the incident occurred
The school has been closed and parents rushed to the scene to collect their children

Several grade 5 and 6 students fell from a height of about 10 metres, causing serious injuries, when wind blew the jumping castle into the air at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, in the state's north-west.

Police confirmed on Thursday evening that another child had died in hospital after the incident, taking the death toll to five.

Earlier, police had confirmed four students had died after the tragedy.

"These children were meant to be celebrating their last day of primary school, instead we're all mourning their loss," Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine said this afternoon.

https://www.abc. net.au/news/2021-12-16/jumping-castle-hillcrest-primary-school-children-die/100704754

**harrybarracuda** · 16-12-2021, 05:21 PM

Some reports say it was as high as 20m.

**Saint Willy** · 16-12-2021, 06:42 PM

10 metres, 20 metres. Child will hit the ground badly.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

No doubt will go down as a "freak accident",

Yes, freak wind. But properly pegged down should not have been an issue.

**malmomike77** · 16-12-2021, 06:49 PM

awful....but jumping castle?

**Bogon** · 16-12-2021, 07:30 PM

^ Think they are known as Inflatable castles in the UK

**malmomike77** · 16-12-2021, 07:33 PM

Bouncy is the word. Have bouncy boxing which is fooking hard work. in any case very sad.

**Bogon** · 16-12-2021, 07:50 PM

^ So it is, my bad.

Poor kids.

**dirk diggler** · 17-12-2021, 10:42 AM

That advert where Mr Kipling accidentally fills the bouncy castle with helium seems to have been mysteriously removed from the interweb.

**Saint Willy** · 19-12-2021, 03:36 PM

Sixth kid has just died.

Sixth child dead in Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle tragedy

Hillcrest Primary School: Sixth child dead in jumping castle tragedy, Tasmania | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site

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