Search icon

News

19th Dec 2021

Sixth child dies following bouncy castle tragedy in Australia

Sarah McKenna Barry

The tragedy occurred earlier this week.

A sixth child has passed away following the bouncy castle tragedy that took place in the town of Devenport in Tasmania, Australia earlier this week.

As reported by RTÉ, the child, an 11-year-old boy, died in hospital.

Confirming the sixth death of the tragedy, the Tasmanian police commissioner Darren Hine said: “It is with a heavy heart that I can confirm an 11-year-old boy passed away in hospital this afternoon.

“Our thoughts continue to be with his family, and the families and loved ones of all the children involved, during what is an incomprehensibly difficult time.”

Five other children were killed in the tragedy, which involved a bouncy castle being lifted into the air by a gust of wind. They have been named as Addison Stewart (11), Zane Mellor (12), Jye Sheehan (12), Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones (12) and Peter Dodt (12).

Two other children remain in a critical condition in hospital. Another child who sustained injuries is being treated at home.

At the time of the tragedy, the children were celebrating the end of their school term before Christmas.

Last week, the country’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison issued a statement on the tragedy and offered his condolences to all those who knew the children.

He said: “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.

“I just want to say, to the parents and families and friends, all who were there, to the other young children there and witnessing these events, I just pray you’ll have great family around you and great friends and you can come through this horrific tragedy.”

A fundraiser has since been set up to help the families affected. It has currently raised over Aus$1.2 million (€760,000).

A police investigation into the tragedy is currently underway.