All five children killed in a bouncy castle tragedy outside their Australian school were identified Friday as police began investigating if the giant inflatable was properly secured to the ground.
The dead victims were all fifth- and sixth-graders at Hillcrest primary school who died after plunging about 30 feet from the bouncy castle that was whipped into the air by a gust of wind on Thursday.
Addison Stewart, 11, and Zane Mellor, 12, had been identified Thursday as two of the victims in the freak accident that took place during a celebration of the last week of classes before Christmas break in Devonport, northern Tasmania.
Addison Stewart, a sixth-grader, was one of the five children identified in the tragedy. GoFundMe
Zane Gardam was also a sixth-grader. A GoFundMe page created in his honor raised over $35,000. GoFundMePolice later said Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones and Peter Dodt, all of whom were 12, also died, news.com.au reported.
Three children remained in critical condition and one other child was discharged from the hospital, authorities said.
Tasmania police commissioner Darren Hine said Friday that investigators will probe whether the bouncy castle was tethered to the ground.
Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones was 12 years old. Tasmania Police
Jye Sheehan, also 12 years old, participated in the Christmas break celebrations before he tragically fell. Tasmania Police
Peter Dodt, 12, was identified in the bouncy castle accident that killed five students. Tasmania PoliceOn the day of the accident, the local weather forecasts called for “light winds.”
Investigators will look into the wind speed at the time of the incident to determine whether it was a “freak event,” the police chief said.
People leave flowers and tributes outside Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, Tasmania, Australia on Dec. 17, 2021. ETHAN JAMES/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Fundraising efforts for the victims’ families raised over $616,000 on GoFundMe. AAP Image/Ethan James via REUTERS
Investigators will question the company responsible for preparing the inflatable castle. AAP Image/Grant Wells via REUTERS“It is fair to say that the wind was quite strong,” Hine said.
Hine said investigators will also question the management of the company responsible for the inflatable castle.
With Post wires



