A cheerful day in the sun for young children celebrating their last day of primary school turned to sheer horror in the blink of eye when Grade 6 kids watched on as four of their classmates were killed in a freak jumping castle accident.
The inflatable plaything was scooped up by a massive gust of wind and hoisted 10m into the air before crashing back to the ground.
Four other children at the Hillcrest Primary School near Devonport in Tasmania are now also fighting for their lives in hospital on Thursday.
The nightmare incident has sent shockwave through the close-knit community with Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine telling reporters the four children who died include two boys and two girls.
Even hardened police and ambulance crews were shaken and brought to tears at the distressing scene.
Just days ago the school announced on social media they would be holding a ‘Big Day In’ celebration to mark the end of the school year and celebrate the primary school graduates.
‘We are excited to let you know that on Thursday December 16, as an alternative arrangement to our school picnic, we will be having a Big Day IN celebration at the school,’ Hillcrest Primary wrote on Facebook on Monday.
‘The purpose for the day is to celebrate a successful year and enjoy some fun activities with classmates.’
The ill-fated day of fun kicked off at 9:30am with student given the opportunity to ‘rotate through a range of activities with their cohort’.
Among the activities were wet play zone including a slippery slide with water puddles and sprinklers.
There was also games and dancing as well as zorb balls and art and crafts areas.
But the main attraction for the big day was the jumping castle with parents told in the social media post to bring a hat, sunscreen and a packed lunch.
The school is in Devonport in northern Tasmania (pictured). Hillcrest Primary School had posted online before the accident advertising its ‘Big Day In’ celebration to parents
Hillcrest Primary School pictured. ‘Several children fell from a height of about 10 metres about 10am,’ a Tasmania Police spokesman said
Mourners in the heartbroken community paid tribute by leaving flowers at the school
‘On a day when these children were meant to be celebrating their last day of primary school, instead we’re all mourning their loss,’ Commissioner Hine said.
‘Our hearts are breaking for the families and the loved ones, schoolmates, teachers of these young people who were taken too soon.’
The school announced on Facebook it was closing for the remainder of Thursday and asked parents to urgently collect their children.
Bob Smith, who lives near the school, told The Mercury newspaper he saw kids on the ground.
‘There was one really strong gust of wind on what is a beautiful calm day,’ he said.
‘At first we thought it might have been an emergency services training exercise then the reality of what was happening kicked in.’
Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the accident as unthinkably heartbreaking.
‘Young children on a fun day out, together with their families and it turns to such horrific tragedy. At this time of year, it just breaks your heart,’ he told reporters on the NSW Central Coast.
Two police officers console each other at Hillcrest Primary School, in Tasmania, after four children were killed when a jumping castle flew ten metres into the air
Paramedics and police are pictured at a scene at Hillcrest Primary School after four children died in a jumping castle incident
Two rescue helicopters and multiple ambulances were sent to the scene.
Detectives are investigating how many children were on the jumping castle in the first place when the tragedy unfolded to prepare a brief for the coroner.
A harrowing photo shows distraught cops consoling each other after two children were declared dead at the scene.
Commissioner Hine said seasoned first responders who were at the shaken by the devastating events.
‘It is an emotional day for everyone who is tragically impacted by today,’ he said.
‘I’ve already seen pictures of police officers quite upset, as you’d expect. Any emergency services and teachers, everyone is affected in some way.’
The jumping castle was blown into the air by a freak gust of wind, killing two kids and leaving several injured (paramedics are pictured at the scene)
Two rescue helicopters and multiple ambulances were sent to the scene on Thursday (pictured)
Hillcrest Primary School said ‘counselling is being made available to the families affected by this in the school community along with the first responders.’
Images at the scene showed a wall of tarpaulin sheets set up as paramedics worked desperately to save those who had been injured.
A school boy said he was about to have his turn on the jumping castle when the accident happened.
‘It was our turn next,’ he said, according to The Mercury. ‘Grade five and six went first.’
Paramedics are pictured at Hillcrest Primary School, near Devonport in Tasmania. Two children have died and several others left in a critical condition after they fell from a jumping castle at the school
The primary school said in a statement there had been an accident and the site would be closed for the rest of the day
Ambulance Tasmania said in a statement that it was responding to a ‘major incident’
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