Another child has died following the bouncy castle tragedy that unexpectedly tossed the kids 32 feet up the air. The death toll for this accident has climbed to six while some of the children are still receiving treatments at the hospital.
Police confirmed that the sixth child, Chace Harrison, died on Sunday due to his injuries. On Thursday, five other kids fell to their deaths after a freak wind tossed their bouncy castle into the air. They were Peter Dodt, 12, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, 12, Zane Mellor, 12, Jye Sheehan, 12, and Addison Stewart, 11.
Per CNN, two other children are still in critical condition while another child is now recovering at home. The kids were celebrating the end of classes at the Hillcrest Primary School in Tasmania, Australia.
Investigations are ongoing with the help of the New South Wales state force. Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine said that they sought assistance from NSW "given the magnitude of this critical incident." The police will be speaking to a number of witnesses, including the traumatized children, to find clarity on what really happened during that fateful day.
Fun Day Out Quickly Turned Tragic
The bouncy castle was part of the "Big Day In" event organized for the kids at the Hillcrest Primary School, which also had a Water Play Zone and a Zorb area. Parents said that the school sets up these activity play centers every end of the school year for the children's fun day out on the last day of school.
There were about 40 children on the ground when gusty winds triggered the bouncy castle tragedy. Even the zorb balls with the kids inside were flung into the air.
Those at the scene immediately rushed to the children for first aid. The paramedics also arrived to fly the injured children to nearby hospitals. However, four were pronounced dead on the scene while another died while getting emergency treatment.
Distraught Tim Mellor said that he is "completely lost" without his son, Zane, who was a "beautiful, caring, gentle soul." Mom Miranda McLaughlin, was just reunited with her son, Peter, because she lives in Adelaide. McLaughlin traveled to Tasmania five days before he died since the borders had just re-opened for fully vaccinated travelers.
Family and friends set up a GoFundMe page for each of the victims' funeral costs. Tributes to the kids were also shared on social media while the police have offered counseling to all those affected by this incident.
Following the tragedy, Tasmania's Education Department placed a ban on bouncy castles until the investigation's results are out. Initial findings showed, however, that the strong wind likely untethered the castle. Commissioner Hine said that they don't want to pre-empt the investigations and will work with the coroner on the evidence gathered.
Australia in Mourning
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that the federal government will be extending $800,000 in support to Tasmania and "the community that will carry this burden." Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has been coordinating with the prime minister since the day of the accident. Morrison also visited Hillcrest Primary School to pay his respects to the children who died.
Gutwein expressed his gratitude for the outpouring support and sympathy for Tasmania, which is located in the south and separated from the mainland via the Bass Strait. Elsewhere, various fundraisers have also been initiated for the victims and their families.
