AusLeisure

A pre-Coronial Inquest case management conference into the deaths of six school children when an inflatable bouncing castle was blown into the air last December has heard that the investigation process is "intensive" and "complex".

Tasmanian Coroner Olivia McTaggart, who is leading the investigation into what happened at the Hillcrest Primary School on 16th December last year, described the event as "catastrophic" during yesterday’s update at the Devonport Magistrates Court.

Coroner McTaggart outlined the course of investigations into the deaths and progress towards a public inquest, which is unlikely to occur for at least six months.

Coroner McTaggart’s advised that she had receive a large volume of evidence including witness statements, forensic reports and photographic and video material but has yest to receive the results of WorkSafe Tasmania investigation and a report from a weather expert.

Speaking yesterday, she declared "I recognise that this event and the deaths of the children has greatly affected so many people.

"It's an event that has touched and saddened the whole Devonport community, and it's had such an impact on Tasmanian citizens as a whole."

Peter Dodt, Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Marie Jones, Zane Mellor, Addison Stewart and Jye Sheehan died in the tragedy.

Reports suggest that a wind event lifted the jumping castle into the air resulting in the deaths.

During yesterday’s update, counsel assisting Leigh Mackey stated that the event could be described as "a mini tornado, a wind devil, or similar" that was “appears to have been powerful and concentrated.”

Mackey advised that it is believed five of the students who died were on the jumping castle, while the sixth was waiting in line for an activity and was struck by an object.

Mackey noted “the jumping castle and zorb balls were inflated, secured, operated and supervised by three TasZorb personnel on site.

"Small groups of children were permitted on to the castle at a time for short periods."

Three students playing in inflatable zorb balls were injured but survived, while two other students playing on the jumping castle also survived.

The Court was told a total of 39 students had been on the oval for 45 minutes before a wind event happened at the school.

Images: The six child victims of last December’s Tasmanian jumping castle tragedy (top) and flowers left outside the Hillcrest Primary School last December following the deaths (below). Supplied.

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