Mum remembers ‘little man’ who loved dinosaurs at funeral after jumping castle tragedy

A mother who lost her son in the Tasmanian jumping castle tragedy has remembered him as a brave and caring young man.

Twelve-year-old Zane Timothy Mellor has been remembered as his mother’s “little man” at an emotional funeral on Thursday.

The sixth-grader was one of six students who were killed in last week’s Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle tragedy in Tasmania.

The tight-knit Devonport community and the rest of the nation were horrified by the freak accident that unfolded on December 16.

There were nine children in total playing on the jumping castle when a gust of wind sent it 10 metres into the air during end-of-year celebrations.

Zane Mellor, 12, was one of six children killed in the Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle tragedy last week. Picture: Supplied

A funeral was held for the sixth-grader on Thursday. Picture: Supplied

Zane’s bright blue casket was covered in drawings of PlayStations while his loved ones wore T-shirts in honour of his gaming name: “Jurassic Zane.”

During the procession at the Mersey Gardens Chapel, his mother Georgie Gardam remembered her son as a brave and caring “little man” who loved gaming and dinosaurs.

“I was so young when I had you, only 15. You grew up with me. You held my hand and kissed my face,” she said.

“I spoiled you rotten and I have no regrets.

“I love you Zane … No matter what the weather, we’re together.”

Prior to the service, she took to social media saying it would be “one of the hardest days” of her life.

Georgie Gardam (centre) spoke at her son’s funeral at the Mersey Gardens Chapel, saying he was a brave and caring “little man”. Picture: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

After the horrific incident, two other students were hospitalised and went into intensive care at Royal Hobart Hospital with critical injuries.

But Premier Peter Gutwein announced on Thursday that they were “steadily improving” and have been moved out of the unit.

“I’m certain all Tasmanians will join me in sending their thoughts and wishes to their two families at this time in what is no doubt a very difficult set of circumstances,” he said.

“My thoughts are with Zane’s family, friends, classmates and the entire Hillcrest school community in what is a very, very sad time.”