National

Scope for jumping castle tragedy inquest detailed

Apr 15, 2026

The children who died (file) — Six children were killed when a wind gust lifted a jumping castle and inflatable balls into the air. -PR IMAGE

Australian standards for inflatable equipment are set to be examined at an inquest into the deaths of six children in a primary school jumping castle tragedy.

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A draft scope for the investigation into the December 2021 incident at Hillcrest Primary School in northwest Tasmania was outlined on Wednesday.

Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Zane Mellor, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan and Peter Dodt, all aged 11 or 12, were killed when a wind gust lifted the castle and inflatable balls into the air.

Three other children, who were also taking part in the end-of-year-celebrations on the school's oval, were injured.

Counsel assisting Maree Norton told Devonport Coroners Court she hoped the inquest could begin in 2026.

There were eight issues in the draft scope, including how the deaths occurred, the set-up and operation of the castle and its anchorage, as well as the wind event, she said.

Australian standards around the set-up of inflatable devices and what can potentially be done to reduce future risk of injury or death would also be examined.

There was a preliminary witness list of 16 people, including representatives of Taz-Zorb which set up the equipment, as well as emergency agencies, Ms Norton said.

A representative from Chinese company East Inflatables, which supplied the equipment to Taz-Zorb, will also likely give evidence.

Family members may also wish to give evidence, their legal representatives told the court.

Taz-Zorb's operator Rosemary Gamble was in June found not guilty of workplace safety breaches, with a magistrate ruling the "dust devil" wind event was impossible to predict.

The inquest wouldn't be a "mere repetition" of the criminal proceedings, Ms Norton added.

It would rely on reports of experts who gave evidence in the criminal proceedings but may request additional information from a climatologist.

Another preparatory case management conference will be held in Hobart on May 28 for any arguments about the draft scope.

It is expected the inquest will be held in a function centre in Devonport to accommodate more people.

Preparations for the inquest were put on hold until the conclusion of Ms Gamble's criminal proceedings.

In the criminal proceedings, it was found she could have taken further steps in relation to the castle's anchorage, but even if she had it would have made no difference to the outcome.

Ms Norton has previously said the coroner is open to making different findings to the criminal ruling.