The classmates and family of the five children who died in the Hillcrest Primary jumping castle disaster have gathered outside the school gates to comfort each other and mourn the horrific loss of life.
Mourners could be seen crying and hugging one another as a pile of tributes grew outside the school for those killed in Thursday’s tragedy in northern Tasmania.
On Thursday a ‘mini tornado’ hit Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, where children were playing on a jumping castle set up for end-of-year celebrations.
The children who died were identified on Friday as Zane Mellor, Peter Dodt, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, all age 12, and their classmate Addison Stewart, 11.
Hundreds of floral bouquets could be seen lining a hill in front of the school fence on Friday, along with soft toys and emotional written tributes.
Mourners could be seen crying and hugging one another as a pile of tributes grew outside Hillcrest school for the lost children on Friday
The children lost in the tragedy (left to right) were identified on Friday as Zane Mellor, Peter Dodt, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan, and Jalailah Jayne-Marie Jones
On Thursday a ‘mini tornado’ hit Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, Tasmania, where children were playing on a jumping castle during end-of-term celebrations
A large group also gathered in front of the school where the children were lost to mourn, comfort one another, and pay their respects.
The wind on Thursday blew the jumping castle 10 metres into the air. Three more children are fighting for life at Royal Hobart Hospital, and one was released and will continue to recover at home.
Harrowing accounts came from eyewitnesses at the scene, who described seeing distraught parents broken down in the gutter, sobbing.
A parent has also shared that their son – who was ‘personally involved’ in the tragedy and is a friend of victims – wants people to turn on their Christmas lights for his lost mates.
The parent told another local, who shared the idea in a Facebook post, that their son is ‘broken’ by the loss of his friends.
The boy asked his father to pass along a message for everyone to turn on their Christmas lights because his late friends loved seeing them.
Some mourners could be seen crying and hugging one another as they paid their respects
Harrowing accounts came from eyewitnesses at the scene, who described seeing distraught parents broken down in the gutter, sobbing. Pictured is a written tribute at the scene
Families and friends of those who died have gathered in front of the school to mourn, comfort one another, and pay their respects
Mourners left a growing tribute of stuffed animals, toys, flowers, balloons, and candles
A memorial is pictured out the front of Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport. Locals were seen leaving flowers, toys and stuffed animals
Two mourners hug each other at the scene of the jumping castle tragedy that shocked Australia and made headlines around the world
A mourner holds a bouquet of flowers as she inspects tributes left at the scene of the accident
The children lost in the tragedy were aged 11 to 12 and were celebrating their last day of school
Mourners left messages to the lost children read ‘RIP angels’, with another saying those who died will never be forgotten
A range of soft toys and stuffed animals were left in memory of the children who died in the tragedy
‘He thinks you all need to light up your lights as his mates wouldn’t want to see darkness,’ the father wrote.
‘They loved your lights…so please put on a show for them dedicated to them.’
Commenters were quick to jump on board and honour the little boy’s wish.
‘I think your brave son is absolutely right and I’m so sorry to him, you and your family, everyone else involved, including witnesses and first responders,’ one person wrote.
‘Definitely feel they would love to see the lights still.’
The wind blew the jumping castle 10 metres into the air, killing five children and leaving several with serious injuries
Locals have also gathered behind a symbol of Tasmania with a broken heart to show their support to families and grief over the tragedy on social media
‘My lights are on mate tell him I am a strong believer those angels need two (sic) see the light just like the kids now do,’ another said.
Locals have also gathered behind a symbol of Tasmania with a broken heart to show their support to families and grief over the tragedy on social media.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
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