Devonport, Tasmania (June 2025) – What was supposed to be a cheerful end-of-year celebration at Hillcrest Primary School turned into a nightmare in a single instant. On December 16, 2021, a freak “dust devil”—a mini-tornado of swirling wind—lifted a brightly colored bouncy castle ten meters into the sky. Inside were seven children; six tragically died, and three others sustained serious injuries

The Day That Shattered a Community

Parents and teachers cheered as kids laughed and played. In mere seconds, joy turned to chaos. The inflatable and surrounding Zorb balls flew skyward; children were hurled to the ground. Survivors and bystanders rushed to help, but six 11- and 12-year-olds—Chace Harrison, Addison Stewart, Peter Dodt, Jalailah Jayne‑Maree Jones, Jye Sheehan, and Zane Mellor—didn’t survive

The Trial and the Verdict

In June 2025, a Tasmanian court cleared bouncy castle operator Rosemary Gamble of health and safety charges. Magistrate Robert Webster concluded that the event was triggered by an unpredictable dust devil, and that no additional precautions could have prevented the catastrophe  Despite noting that the castle may have been improperly anchored, the court found no criminal negligence due to the unforeseeable nature of the wind event.

Parents Left in Shock and Grief

Emotions erupted in the courtroom. Zane’s mother, Georgie Burt, cried out in despair: “I hope you see them every time I miss a birthday…” . Peter’s father, Andrew Dodt, said he’ll never receive the apology he craves: “All I wanted was an apology for my son not coming home… and I’m never going to get it”. Families described their hopes for justice as “shattered”

A Community Demands More

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff expressed solidarity, calling the day “heart‑wrenching”  A class-action lawsuit has been launched, and a coronial inquest is pending  Meanwhile, families and community members are calling for stronger safety regulations for public events, especially those involving children.

The Bigger Picture

This tragedy echoes other fatal incidents: South Africa’s Laerskool Protearif saw a similar bouncy castle lift-off, injuring two children  Across the globe, these warnings push regulators to reassess inflatable safety guidelines, particularly anchoring requirements and weather forecasting protocols.

Final Thought

A gust of wind, a joyful gathering, and six young lives extinguished. Now, over three years later, a city mourns all over again—not just for those lost, but for the justice they still await.