Tasmania has announced a ban on jumping castles at all state schools following a tragic incident which claimed the lives of five children this week.
The ban will remain in place while an investigation is underway into the tragedy at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport on Thursday.
Five children – Zane Mellor, Peter Dodt, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, all aged 12, and their classmate Addison Stewart, 11 – lost their lives when the jumping castle they were on flew ten metres into the air after a gust of wind.
Three more students are fighting for life in hospital and another is now recovering at home.
Tasmania’s Education Department confirmed they have ‘put a hold on the use of jumping castle-style equipment until the results of the investigation are known’.
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
Distraught police officers are seen at the scene where five children lost their lives when a jumping castle flew into the air from a gust of wind
Education minister Sarah Courtney is seen paying her respects at the memorial on Saturday
One man was overcome with emotion while visiting the memorial outside Hillcrest Primary School
Ms Courtney was visibly emotional as she dropped off a bouquet of flowers to the memorial site
‘The Department of Education has policies and procedures in place in relation to holding a range of activities on school sites. These policies and procedures are reviewed and updated regularly.’
All state schools were told of the new policy on Friday afternoon with Senior work health and safety adviser Mark Lobban saying it will remain ‘until further notice’.
‘Following the tragic incident at Hillcrest Primary school yesterday the decision has been made to place a ban on the use of all jumping castles and inflatable amusement equipment on all [Department] sites,’ he said.
‘This extends to cover all external hirers of [Department] sites.’
Jumping castles that are ‘continuously blown’ and are three metres high must be registered.
Hundreds have paid their respects to the five children who tragically died
A police officer is seen paying her respects at a memorial set up at Hillcrest Primary School
Residents are seen paying tribute to the victims of the jumping castle tragedy. Three more children are recovering in hospital
The hire company which supplied the jumping castle that was involved in the accident has meanwhile removed its website and social media pages.
Taz-Zorb also supplied zorb balls for the school event.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the company for comment.
Australian Amusement Association spokesperson Damian De Jong told The Examiner the ban would drastically impact 1,000 families who operate inflatable devices.
‘I don’t think we need more regulation, but we do need more education about what clients can look for to make sure they’re getting a good operator,’ he said.
‘From one incident, this is now going to impact us all. But Just hope there’s a balanced debate, not just calls for bans. Our industry has been very safe for a long time.’
Flowers, letters and toys filled the side of the road outside the primary school as locals pay their respects
On Friday large groups of mourners gathered out the front of Hillcrest Primary School’s gates to pay tribute to and mourn the tragic death of the five young children
If wind speeds exceed 39.6km/h, jumping castles can not be operated. It’s been confirmed the wind during Thursday’s accident was not above that limit.
It comes as $1million has been raised for the families of the five victims.
Devonport local Zoe Smith created a GoFundMe page to help support the family and process their grief through the Christmas period.
‘All funds will go to the families of the children who were tragically killed and injured too not only support them but provide them with much needed gifts in this time of such sadness,’ she wrote.
On Friday large groups of people gathered out the front of Hillcrest Primary School’s gates to pay tribute to and mourn the tragic deaths of the five young children.
Mourners of all ages were seen crying and comforting one another as they left stuffed toys, flowers, and handwritten notes for the victims.
Seven zorb balls, which are large and inflatable balls that children stand inside, also took flight during the strong wind gust.
Tasmanian Police Commissioner Darren Hine has remained tight-lipped about the investigation.
He said there were close to 40 Year 5 and 6 students taking part in the end-of-term activities at the time.
A fundraiser set up on Thursday has reached over $1 million to help the families who lost children in the Hillcrest jumping castle tragedy in northern Tasmania. Pictured are mourners at the school
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