Inquest resumes into six children's jumping castle deaths

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 17:08 · Archive

An inquest into the deaths of six primary school children killed when a jumping castle was lifted by a freak wind gust resumes on Tuesday.

An inquest into the deaths of six primary school children killed in a jumping castle accident at Hillcrest Primary School in Tasmania resumes on Tuesday. The children—Addison Stewart, Chace Harrison, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Peter Dodt and Zane Mellor—died during end-of-year celebrations in 2021 when a freak 'dust devil' wind gust lifted the castle and other inflatable objects into the air. The inquest began in September after delays due to criminal proceedings and is examining the causes of death, safety protocols and national regulations.

A police detective and a worker from Taz-Zorb, the company which set up the equipment, will give evidence on Tuesday. Only half of the castle's eight anchorage points had pegs in them, and an inflatable Zorb-ball barrier had pegs in six of 32 points. Veteran constable Dean Wotherspoon, the lead forensic investigator, said in his opinion the castle was insufficiently tethered.

Zane Mellor's mother Georgie Burt told the inquest she was provided inaccurate information about her son's location in the aftermath and was directed to a nearby hospital, only to discover he had died on the oval. She said she was unable to see his body for several days. The inquest will reinflate the jumping castle for tests and will likely hear evidence from a world-renowned dust devil expert who has worked with NASA.

How it is being reported

• Police, operator to appear at jumping castle inquestA long-awaited inquest into the deaths of six primary school children in a jumping castle accident will hear from more witnesses who were there on the day.Perth Now · 2 Nov, 16:31
• Police, operator to appear at jumping castle inquestA long-awaited inquest into the deaths of six primary school children in a jumping castle accident will hear from more witnesses who were there on the day.The West Australian · 2 Nov, 16:31

In this story: Hillcrest Primary School · Tasmania · Taz-Zorb · Zane Mellor · Georgie Burt · Dean Wotherspoon

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