The tragedy took place on the last day of term at a primary school in Tasmania
Five children have died after a gust of wind blew a bouncy castle 10 metres in the air at a primary school end-of-year celebration, with four more seriously injured.
The tragic incident took place at Hillcrest Primary School, near Devonport in north-west Tasmania, at about 10am on Thursday.
The ages of the five victims have not been confirmed by authorities, but they were all in grades five or six, year groups typically for children aged 10-12.
Police said the children had fallen from a height of about 10 metres (32ft).
Pandemics arrived at the scene shortly quickly after the accident, with the children being given first aid before being flown in helicopters to hospital, the BBC reports.
Hard to put into words the scene here in Tasmania’s north-west. It’s just devastating @abcnews pic.twitter.com/oFdCHaJIc9
— Monte Bovill (@MonteBovill) December 16, 2021
Pictures from ABC News showed officers consoling each other at the scene of the tragedy.
Several children have fallen from a height of 10 metres, causing serious injuries, after the wind blew a jumping castle into the air at a primary school in Tasmania's north-west @abcnews pic.twitter.com/tf01vevPab
— Monte Bovill (@MonteBovill) December 16, 2021
Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine said on Thursday afternoon: “I can now sadly confirm four children have died and four are in a critical condition.
“On a day when these children were meant to be celebrating their last day of primary school, instead we’re all mourning their loss.
“Our hearts are breaking for the families and the loved ones, schoolmates, teachers of these young people who were taken too soon.”
Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine confirms four children have died at a primary school in Devonport. pic.twitter.com/Jv3VOdZ1Al
— The Age (@theage) December 16, 2021
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the accident as “unthinkably heartbreaking”.
“Young children on a fun day out… and it turns to such horrific tragedy. At this time of the year, it just breaks your heart,” he said.
One parent told a local newspaper that the school had previously installed such floats on similar occasions with no problems.
They told the Hobart Mercury: “You wouldn’t dream a fun activity day would end like this.
“We all feel so heartbroken for the parents involved. And feel guilty that we are also relieved our children were not injured.”
A coroner’s investigation into the tragedy is underway.
This is not the first example of an accident like this. In July 2018, a young girl died after being thrown from an exploding bouncy castle in Norfolk.
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