Sky News host Laura Jayes in tears over Tasmania jumping castle tragedy

An emotional interview about the families and medical staff rocked by the deaths of five children left Sky News host Laura Jayes fighting back tears.

Australians have been reminded to hug their kids in an emotional TV interview that left the host struggling to hold back tears.

Sky News host Laura Jayes was visibly distraught after discussing the Tasmania jumping castle tragedy with an MP who had visited some of those involved.

Grade 6 students Addison Stewart and her classmate named as Zane were among five pupils killed when a jumping castle was thrown into the air by a gust of wind at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport about 10am on Thursday.

The five victims were grade five and six students celebrating the end of the school year when the freak accident occurred.

Three other students are in hospital in a critical condition after they were knocked from the inflatable when it was 10 metres in the air. Another student is in hospital in a serious condition.

The tragedy occurred after a significant local wind event caused a jumping castle and several inflatable “zorb” balls to lift into the air about 10am on Thursday, Tasmania police said in a statement.

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The tragedy occurred on the last day of school. Picture: Grant Viney

‘Hug your kids’: Teary TV interview

Sky News host Laura Jayes has tried her best to hold back tears in an emotional interview with a local MP who had just returned from hospital.

Jayes was joined by Gavin Pearce, federal member for Braddon, on Sky News for an update on the how the Devonport community was handling the tragedy.

“I think we’d do anything to relieve the horrific grief that they must be going through, what can we do? What can people outside your community do? What do you think would best help,” she asked.

An equally emotional Mr Pearce told viewers to pray for them and send love.

“As a father I hug my kids and a tear run down my cheek,” he said.

“Just hug your kids and be grateful that you have them because those families they may never get over this.”

An emotional interview with Sky host Laura Jayes and MP Gavin Pearce. Picture: Sky News

With tears in her eyes and a shaky voice, Ms Jayes said she couldn’t imagine what it was like to have been at the hospital, and for the first responders and medical staff involved.

“They’ve not only got to help keep these babies alive but also deal with this grief themselves,” she said.

Mr Pearce shared a story about a “devastated” nurse directly involved.

“This has rocked her more than anything else. There’s a thing about kids, when a child, when their innocence is involved – you wouldn’t be human if you weren’t touched by that,” he said.

“This is going to touch those families, that community forever.”

– Chantelle Francis

‘It is unimaginable’: Mayor breaks down

A visibly emotional Devonport mayor Annette Rockcliff appeared on breakfast television on Friday morning, breaking down during an interview with Today while explaining how her community was still trying to process the nightmare.

“I know my community well and I know that … they are taking care of each other and we will continue to do that as best we can over the coming days and weeks. It is, as you say, unimaginable and it’s a very difficult time for so many people in our community,” she said.

“Everyone will know someone who knows someone in the family or in the school community. There are lots of connections in this community and it will be a really tough time and I’m sure that everyone’s trying to process it as best they can.”

She said she had not yet spoken with the families as she did not believe it was “appropriate” yet, but that she will be liaising with the education department regarding the best way to make contact.

She said there was “nothing that the mayor of Devenport can say that will make that any better for them”, but that she hoped they knew “this community will wrap our arms around them and do the best we can to support them”.

Ms Rockcliff also appeared on Sunrise early on Friday morning, saying the entire community was still in shock.

“This is a small community of 25,000 people and everyone is interconnected, so everyone knows somebody and we are all still struggling to even comprehend what has happened,” she said.

“It has been a dreadful time for so many of us.”

She said no more information was known at this stage regarding how the tragedy unfolded, but that there would be an investigation.

An update on the condition of the children who remain in hospital is expected later today.

“I urge everyone to take care of themselves, keep an eye out for everyone because this will affect everyone differently and some more than others,” she said.

“We had more than 90 ambulance officers on site yesterday, plus fire and ambulance, and all of those are part of our community as well and as we saw the photos of a huge ripple effect right through and there are so many stories and it is going to be a long and difficult process, and I just urge everyone to do the best they can to take care of each other.

She said the education department was offering wellbeing services for those affected.

Tributes are being left at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport. Picture: Grant Viney

Fiona Morrison, a member of the local Uniting Church who organised a candlelight vigil for the students on Thursday night, also told Today the entire community was reeling from the tragedy.

“It has been a time where people who just have no connection to the school or to any of the families have just come in crying and grieving over the loss of children in a community and something that was supposed to be a celebration to turn into a tragedy that affects a whole island community,” she said.

She said church members with connections to the school were supporting each other.

“That’s all they can do at the moment. It is just a time of grief and such a time of shock, that they still can’t believe that it has happened,” she said.

“And, you know, from families and children who just are in such shock that what they have seen or what they have experienced is a nightmare that they never thought they would experience.”

She said locals were “rallying” and that there had been an outpouring of support and fundraising, with some community members turning their Christmas lights off in a sign of respect while others turned them on specifically to offer some hope and comfort to grieving children.

“In most of the world we have six degrees of separation. In Tasmania, really it is about three. This is such a deeply-held community that holds each other and knows each other so well from long times of experience and family connections. So it really is a big shock to this community,” she said.

Teen fundraiser’s unbelievable act

Zoe Smith, an 18-year-old local who set up a GoFundMe page to support the families who have been affected by the tragedy, told Today the response had been “astronomical”.

More than $300,000 has been raised in less than 24 hours, with the teen saying the public’s generosity was “beyond anything we could comprehend”.

Ms Smith, who has no personal connection to the school, said she wanted to help out as an “external figure” who wasn’t “emotionally involved”.

She said she had been “inundated” with messages of support and that she planned to give the money to the school community.

“That way they can distribute it to the families … so they can see fit how it’s used. Hopefully it can go towards some other gifts for the rest of the school as well,” she said.

“I am sure it will be used in the best way … Hopefully to alleviate some of the financial burdens that the families are currently in.”

‘Just horrific’: Jacqui’s heartache

Appearing on Today on Friday morning, a visibly shaken Independent Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie, who was raised in Devenport, said she and the entire community were in shock.

"You think of those kids having those Christmas presents under the tree. It's just bloody awful."

The community of Devonport is in mourning after the death of five children in a jumping castle tragedy on the final day of the school term. #9Todaypic.twitter.com/zjQhqKOaRu

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) December 16, 2021

Ms Lambie broke down as she said she was “scared to get on the phone” this morning given just how tight-knit the local community is.

“I’m a bit scared to get on the phone and make calls actually … I don’t know whose children they are. I don’t know whose grandchildren they are,” she said.

“So … I think for us today … I think we’re still in shock. Like, you know, I’m sitting there doing a Zoom and I could see one child had gone, and then another … The numbers kept going up.

Jacqui Lambie broke down on Today.

“It is the most awful thing before Christmas time. Honestly! It is just … I just … I think we’re all in shock. You don’t even want to know about it. It is just awful.”

Ms Lambie said the tragedy would also take a toll on first responders.

“Those police officers, you will probably find they are born and bred from there as well or from the local area,” she said.

“It is just God-awful. I will be honest. It is just awful. I don’t even want to pick up the phone … I know it’s going to be somebody that we know, … We still don’t know how the other four children are going that are still in hospital … Is there going to be more?

“It is just, just horrific! A week before Christmas time … Those kids, those Christmas presents under the tree … It is just bloody awful!”

World reacts to heartbreak

Ms Rockcliff also appeared on The Project and the BBC overnight, where she said the people of Devonport were still in shock and “struggling to come to terms with the accident” that has now left Year 5 and 6 students dead and three other students in hospital in a critical condition. Another student is in hospital in a stable condition.

“We’re trying to take care of each other but I think we’re still struggling to get our head around it,” Cr Rockcliff said.

In a heartbreaking reveal, Cr Rockcliff told The Project she had met the students only last week after visiting the primary school.

“I did meet all of those children last week, I was in their classroom for an hour or so, so it’s tough to think about that,” she said, looking visibly upset.

Overnight two of the young victims of the school tragedy were named in fundraising pages set up to help their families.

Year 6 students Zane and Addison were among the five students from Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport who died in the accident.

Mayor Annette Rockcliff became emotional when talking to Jan Fran on The Project.

Addison Stewart, one of the victims who has died.

Cr Rockcliff said “we’re all taking care of our children and each other as best we can at this point”.

In a statement Cr Rockliff said: “Our hearts are broken – there are no words to be honest.

“As Mayor my heart aches for my community, as a mother and a grandmother, I am rocked to the core.

“What should have been a day full of fun and celebration for the last day of the school year, has ended in an unimaginable way.”

She later explained to BBC Breakfastthat the “fairly small community” of Devonport is the “gateway to Tasmania” and that residents in the town of 26,000 are well connected.

“I know that everyone will have a connection,” she said.

‘Shattering and heartbreaking’: PM’s message

Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the tragedy as “shattering and heartbreaking” and told reporters: “Young children on a fun day out, together with their families and it turns to such a horrific tragedy at this time of year. It just breaks your heart.”

Tasmanian Police Commissioner Darren Hine said the children were supposed to be having a happy last day of the school year when tragedy struck.

Mr Hine, described the events as “one of the most serious tragedies any of us are going to experience.”

“On a day when these children were meant to be celebrating their last day of primary school, instead we’re all mourning their loss,” he said.

“Our hearts are breaking for the families and the loves ones, school mates, teachers of these young people who were taken too soon.

“Our thoughts are with the staff of Hillcrest Primary School and wider school community as well as those emergency services who attended the scene as first responders.

“We will be doing everything we can to support the community – and each other – through this tragedy.”

Investigations are underway into the incident, with involvement from WorkSafe Tasmania.

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