Survivors of Hillcrest jumping castle tragedy facing long recovery
Two children injured in the horror jumping castle tragedy remain in critical but stable conditions and are both facing “very slow and long” recoveries.
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Two children injured in the horror Devonport jumping castle tragedy remain in critical but stable conditions in intensive care and are both facing “very slow and long” recoveries.
Medical experts have worked around the clock since Thursday to keep the two children alive after they fell 10m when a gust of wind picked up the jumping castle they were playing on and threw them to the ground.
“The list of injuries on these kids is a mile long,” a well-placed source said. “They face a very long and slow recovery.”
Both children suffered blunt force trauma and are recovering from multiple broken bones as well as severe internal injuries.
On Monday a boy who witnessed the horror incident returned to the scene for the first time.
The pupil’s mother said her son would be interviewed by police this week.
He is among 40 witnesses who will be interviewed as Tasmania Police and a team of specialist child interviewers from NSW gather evidence for the coroner.
A steady trickle of visitors braved cold and windy conditions on Monday to pay their respects at the Devonport school, including a representative of Tasmanian Governor Barbara Baker.
“I join with the Tasmanian community in feelings of great sorrow of the tragedy that has happened at Hillcrest Primary School,” her card said.
The sixth victim, Chace Harrison, 11, was remembered as a promising athlete.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we say goodbye to our little Warrior, Chace,” the Devonport Warriors Basketball Club said.
“To all who have been affected by this tragedy, we walk with you in your sorrow. Chace, seek out a basketball court lit up by the stars and keep shooting those hoops.”
Basketball Tasmania said Chace had been hand-picked for its future development program.
The Devonport Christian School was also mourning his death as he was due to start there in 2022.
“These last few days have been extremely difficult for all in Devonport and now it is significantly heavier, as we lose one of our future champions,” a school statement said. “To us you are part of our community and will be forevermore.”
Chace’s parents Teresa and Craig Harrison were due to return to Devonport after saying their final goodbyes to their son at Hobart Hospital on Sunday.
Families of the five other victims are now planning funerals for the children.
On Wednesday a service will be held for 12-year-old Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones at her local parish Church of Christ.
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