Jumping castle operator gives evidence at inquest into six deaths

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 5 Nov, 16:55 · Archive

The operator of a jumping castle that killed six schoolchildren in Tasmania in 2021 has given evidence at an inquest into the tragedy.

Rosemary Gamble, operator of Taz-Zorb, gave evidence via video link on Thursday at an inquest into the deaths of six Year 5 and 6 students at Hillcrest Primary School in December 2021. The children—Addison Stewart, Chace Harrison, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Peter Dodt and Zane Mellor—were killed when a freak dust devil wind gust lifted the inflatable castle into the air during end-of-year celebrations.

Ms Gamble described witnessing the castle become airborne. 'Everything was just swirling around,' she said. 'It was so fast. It was there and then it wasn't. As you blinked, it disappeared.' She compared the scene to 'the house from the Wizard of Oz'. The dust devil was about 4 metres wide and 'enclosed' the jumping castle. The castle had been tethered at four of its eight anchorage points.

Ms Gamble was cleared of criminal workplace health and safety breaches in 2025. The magistrate ruled she could have done more to secure the castle, but that extra efforts would not have changed the outcome. Ms Gamble told the inquest she had no formal training when she started Taz-Zorb in 2012 and bought the castle from a Chinese supplier in 2015. She said the castle did not come with an instruction manual, though she downloaded one proactively from the supplier's website. A Taz-Zorb worker, Jesse Barrett, told the inquest on Tuesday that decisions on whether to use four or more pegs were made based on ground conditions and weather.

How it is being reported

• Deadly jumping castle 'swirled like the Wizard of Oz'The operator of the jumping castle at the centre of the Hillcrest Primary School tragedy has given a first-hand account of it being lifted into the air.The West Australian · 5 Nov, 16:31
• Deadly jumping castle 'swirled like the Wizard of Oz'The operator of the jumping castle at the centre of the Hillcrest Primary School tragedy has given a first-hand account of it being lifted into the air.Perth Now · 5 Nov, 16:31
• Jumping castle operator to face questions at inquestAn inquest will hear from the operator of an inflatable jumping castle at the centre of a primary school tragedy in which six children died.Perth Now · 4 Nov, 16:32
• Jumping castle operator to face questions at inquestAn inquest will hear from the operator of an inflatable jumping castle at the centre of a primary school tragedy in which six children died.The West Australian · 4 Nov, 16:32

In this story: Rosemary Gamble · Taz-Zorb · Hillcrest Primary School · Tasmania · East Inflatables · Addison Stewart · Chace Harrison · Jye Sheehan

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