Sixth child dies in Hillcrest Primary jumping castle tragedy
A Hillcrest Primary School student was told to get off the jumping castle moments before it was swept into the air, killing six of his classmates, including his best friend.
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A Hillcrest Primary School student was told to get off the jumping castle at the school on Thursday morning before tragedy struck, killing six of his classmates.
Little Hunta Clarke-Dixon was on the apparatus with his “best friend” and promising young basketballer Chace Harrison, but got off when told that he needed to wait.
Seconds later a gust of wind carried the jumping castle and nearby zorb balls into the air before the children plummeted to the ground.
Six of the nine children injured in the horror accident have since died, including 11-year-old Chace.
One has been discharged from hospital while two more fight for life in the Royal Hobart Hospital’s intensive care unit.
A dedicated team of Tasmania’s best medical professionals has been working around the clock since Thursday to keep the two children alive after they experienced blunt force trauma during the shocking incident.
It is understood the children will face an extensive road to recovery after they fell from heights of up to 10m on Thursday when a gust of wind picked up the jumping castle and flung them to the ground.
Among the children’s injuries are multiple broken bones, as well as severe internal damage.
“The list of injuries on these kids is a mile long,” one source said.
“They face a very long and slow recovery.”
Hunta returned to the school with his mum on Monday to put up a sign telling his mate to show “the other angels up there how to shoot some hoops”.
In his sign, Hunta said he had been praying for his mate Chace every night since the tragedy happened.
On Sunday he learned Chace had died from his injuries.
“You were always happy and a funny person,” the sign said.
“We will miss your laughter and playing basketball at school. Love you lots matey. Always look down on us.”
Hunta’s mother said she could not properly describe what she saw on the oval when she came to collect Hunta from school after hearing there had been an incident.
“It was very traumatising. Hunta has been to talk to the social workers. This is not going to get better anytime soon.”
COMMUNITY MOURNS SIXTH VICTIM
Tributes for the promising young basketballer killed in the tragedy are flowing.
Chace Harrison, 11, has been described as a “much-loved” member of the Devonport Warrior basketball club.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we say goodbye to our little Warrior, Chace,” the club said in a statement on Monday morning.
“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 also extended their condolences to the Harrison family.
“In further tragic news, one of our own members from the basketball family has passed away,” a statement said.
“Chace Harrison was a much-loved member of the Devonport Warriors and also a previous athlete in the BTAS Future Development Program.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Harrison family and everyone else that has been involved in this devastating incident.”
The Devonport Christian School is also mourning the loss of “future champion” Chace, who was due to start at the school next year.
“It is with deepest sadness that we mourn the passing of Chace Harrison,” the school said.
“These last few days have been extremely difficult for all in Devonport and now today it is significantly heavier, as we lose one of our future champions.
“Chace, DCS was greatly looking forward to you commencing as a student next year.
“To us you are part of our community and will be forevermore.
“You have many special friends at DCS and we will remember you.”
Chace’s parents, Teresa and Craig Harrison, as well as siblings Sienna and Amelia, continue to mourn the loss of the young boy, after saying their final goodbye to him on Sunday afternoon.
Chace died at the Royal Hobart Hospital after succumbing to the injuries sustained in Thursday’s horror incident.
Chace’s distraught extended relatives attended the memorial site to pay their respects.
“It is just such a tough time,” relative Karen Wallace said.
“We don’t even want to celebrate Christmas.”
The Tasmanian JackJumpers has reached out to the Harrison family saying there were no words to accurately describe the grief and sorrow that has swept across Tasmania.
JackJumpers chief executive Simon Brookhouse said the club shared in the community’s grief, particularly among Basketball Tasmania and the Devonport Warriors Basketball Club.
“Chace was a promising young basketballer, and along with his parents and sisters, was well known to key members of the JackJumpers family. We are just heartbroken for his family, coaches and teammates” Brookhouse said.
The club had been due to announce on Monday that current partner, SRT Logistics had extended its support to shorts sponsor for the 2021-’22 season.
SRT Logistics CEO Rob Miller said “such announcements seem immaterial at this time, but we thought this is an opportunity to use the sponsorship as a vehicle to help and we have decided to donate a branding spot on the shorts to Kids Helpline to promote their support services, which are so important at this time”.
From Boxing Day, the Kids Helpline logo will appear on the JackJumpers playing shorts for all remaining home and away games and the club will further support messaging with signage displaying the logo and contact numbers at all home games.
The club will also support the Devonport community by wearing black bands on its jerseys for games against Perth Wildcats, Sydney Kings and on Boxing Day against New Zealand Breakers and holding a minute’s silence and recognising the victims at the next home game on Boxing Day at MyState Bank Arena
The Tasmania JackJumpers recognise that the events at Hillcrest Primary School may be overwhelming and we encourage anyone impacted to reach out for support through 24/7 support hotlines, Lifeline Tasmania on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
Families of the five other victims are now planning funerals for the children.
On Wednesday, a funeral will be held for 12-year-old victim Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones at her local parish Church of Christ.
CHILD INTERVIEWERS ARRIVE FROM NSW
On Monday, police veteran Scott Tilyard said he had seen many traumatic events in his 40 years of service with Tasmania Police but the incident at Hillcrest Primary School was “one of the most tragic days that Tasmania has seen”.
Mr Tilyard, the Tasmanian Road Safety Advisory Council chair and former deputy commissioner, who retired from policing in March this year having undertaken roles in uniform, criminal investigation and prosecution positions, has encountered many tragedies in his time and said this one had shook the state and touched the lives of those much further away too.
Investigators are trying to make sense of the tragic incident which has led to the loss of six young lives, the ongoing hospitalisation of two more and the serious injuries of another.
Mr Tilyard, encouraged people to be sensible on the roads over the festive season as Tasmania had already endured too much sadness in what should be a joyous time for family and friends.
“The tragic events up at Devonport last week just show how quickly things can turn, a tragic incident like that and people’s lives are just absolutely changed forever,” Mr Tilyard said.
“The last week or so in particular has been traumatic for all Tasmanians really and beyond, so anyone that feels that they are too distressed to be safe on the road shouldn’t be driving under any circumstances.
“I have been involved in policing for over 40 years and I have seen a lot of traumatic events, but the events last week up at Devonport is certainly one of the most tragic days that Tasmania has seen in recent times.”
It comes after a squad of specialised detectives from NSW landed in Devonport on Sunday to help Tasmanian authorities with the complex task of interviewing dozens of children who witnessed the horror incident.
Police Commissioner Darren Hine said an investigation would take time, as the complex task of interviewing children among the more than 40 grade 5 and 6 students would be a sensitive procedure.
“We want to make sure we’ve got the best services to interview those children affected,” Mr Hine said.
“We can only imagine how traumatic it is for everyone involved.”
Premier Peter Gutwein said government support to the families would be ongoing.
“I think we need to ensure at the moment that our thoughts are still with those two children who are critically hurt,” he said.
“None of us can understand just how difficult it is for those six families who’ve lost children.”
TEARS AT MAKESHIFT MEMORIAL
On Sunday, Devonport residents continued to flock to the school’s makeshift memorial site to pay their respects.
Zane Mellor, 12, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, 12, Jye Sheehan, 12, Addison Stewart, 11, and Peter Dodt, 12, were also killed while celebrating the last day of the 2021 school year.
Strong wind caused a jumping castle and inflatable zorb balls to be picked up, before the children fell from about a 10m height.
Jumping castle operators Taz-Zorb Launceston have removed their website and Facebook page in light of Thursday’s tragic events.
Meanwhile, a little boy who witnessed his classmates fall on Thursday during their school break-up party has returned to the scene for the first time.
The pupil, who did not want to be named, said he had not wanted to come back to Hillcrest Primary after the shocking events of last week but said he finally felt ready to visit the vigil.
His mother said her son would be interviewed by police this week as the investigation into just what happened continues.
The primary student is among 40 witnesses who will be interviewed as Tasmania Police and the team of specialist child interviewers from NSW gather evidence for the coroner. Among those who laid flowers on Monday morning as a steady trickle of visitors braved cold and windy conditions to pay their respect at the Devonport school was a representative of Tamanian governor Barbara Baker.
“I join with the Tasmanian community in feelings of great sorrow of the tragedy that has happened at Hillcrest Primary School,” the card said.
“Our hearts are with the grieving families and the families of the injured children.”
SURVIVOR’S LUCKY ESCAPE
The father of a boy who escaped Devonport’s jumping castle tragedy with just a broken arm says his son is “so lucky” to be alive.
Hillcrest student Beau Medcraft, 12, miraculously survived the horror schoolyard accident that killed six of his classmates.
The year 6 student visited the makeshift memorial site on Sunday with his parents to pay tribute to his six friends.
Beau’s father, John Medcraft, posted online about his son’s miraculous tale of survival.
“My boy Beau was and is so lucky, he was on the jumping castle and thrown off,” he said of Thursday’s tragedy.
“He’s bruised, busted and broken but he’s still with us. He’s more thinking of his mates he’s lost and all of them. He’s a tough kid.”
Beau wore a bandage on his left arm and a cast and sling on his right arm.
In a touching gesture to his fallen classmates, he left four gaming controllers at the scene as many loved to play video games.
He was embraced by his parents who supported him while he absorbed the thousands of floral tributes left by the Devonport community.
FINAL MOMENTS WITH YOUNGEST VICTIM
The family of the youngest jumping castle victim, Addison Stewart, has broken their silence after the tragic death of the 11-year-old.
Proud grandparents Graham and Sharyn Deacon attended the makeshift memorial site on Sunday, where thousands of tributes have been laid.
The pair said their granddaughter was a promising grade 5 student who had the world at her feet.
“Addison had such a great life ahead of her but that has been taken away,” her grandfather, Graham Deacon, said.
“We are just so proud of her. She is a beautiful granddaughter, we have looked after her since she was a baby.
“We have watched her grow up into a young lady, probably beyond her years.”
Mr Deacon revealed Addison was a promising grade five student who had been announced as a school leader just days before her death.
She had also received multiple awards at her end-of year-presentation day.
“That was the last time we saw her,” Mr Deacon said.
“I went up to congratulate her. She hugged me and said ‘thanks Pop’.
“It just breaks your heart.”
Addison was one of three children, grandmother Sharyn said.
“We are certainly going to miss her,” Ms Deacon said. “It will be a big hole in our lives.”
DEVASTATED GRANDPA REVISITS SCENE
A grieving grandfather has returned to the scene where his grandson was tragically killed in the jumping castle tragedy.
Richard Gardam, the grandfather of 12-year-old victim Zane Mellor, entered Hillcrest Primary School on Sunday and paid tribute to his fallen loved one.
Mr Gardam hugged a tree in the vicinity of the horror incident, which unfolded on Thursday.
He was consoled by Tasmanian rural health counsellor Bradley Carter, who has been at the scene since Thursday providing support on the ground.
“I saw a granddad who was wanting some closure, he wanted to know,” Mr Carter said.
“It was lovely to be with him at that moment. He is not blaming anyone, he is just looking for answers. He doesn’t want jumping castles banned but he just wants to make them safer so kids can enjoy it and know they will come home.”
Mr Carter said he was grateful to be a source of support at the makeshift memorial site for families and friends suffering unimaginable grief.
“It is just about supporting him through the grieving process and being able to find even menial purpose in what has happened,” he said.
“It is going to be really tough. I think Richard is finding that he comes to the scene to get strength. He gets that strength to go back and be that strong person for the rest of his family.”
Paramedics also returned to the scene of the tragedy on Sunday morning.
Scattered showers did not deter a steady stream of locals from visiting the makeshift memorial site on Sunday.
MUM’S HEARTBREAKING TRIBUTE
Zane Mellor’s distraught mother also visited the makeshift memorial site on Saturday afternoon.
Georgie Gardam dropped to her knees at the scene where hundreds of floral tributes, teddies and toys have been laid.
She carried a PlayStation console, as well as a shirt that belonged to her beloved boy.
She clung to the shirt as she broke down in tears over the loss of her first-born child.
“This isn’t real,” she said online.
“My world is broken. I am empty. I am coming to hold your hand and kiss your face, baby. “How do we go on without you, we know we gave you the best life.
“I may (have) let you game a little too long or spoil you with too much McDonald’s and Hawaiian pizza and buy too many PlayStation games but everything I did in life was for you.”
Ms Gardam said she was touched by the outpouring of grief at the scene but nothing would bring her son home.
“I just needed to see what everyone had done and I appreciate it so much but nothing brings my baby home,” she said.
She said the family had set up a memorial at home in honour of Zane in the wake of his death.
“I have all his Christmas presents and we’ve opened some of them up and set them up for him,” she said.
Other extended family members who weren’t able to be at the hospital attended the makeshift memorial site at Hillcrest Primary School on Saturday.
A tearful Sarah Courtney has added her floral tribute to the massive vigil to the young victims of Thursday’s jumping castle tragedy.
Arriving at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport on Saturday morning, the Education Minister said there was nothing she could say or do to undo the events of Thursday but it was her job to ensure the parents of the children killed and injured received the support they needed.
“This will be really horrific and long road to recovery. There will be time to understand what happened and I am not going to pre-empt coronial matters,” Ms Courtney said.
‘BEAUTIFUL’ ZANE REMEMBERED
Zane Mellor’s grandfather Richard Gardam described his grandson Zane as a “fun-loving kid” who loved animals.
“I’m missing him terribly,” he said.
“He was a beautiful boy. He was a fun-loving kid. He had slight autism but it wasn’t enough to stop him.”
The grieving grandfather thanked the first responders who worked at the scene in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“The police, the ambos, the teachers, everyone that was up here that came to assist – I know it is the toughest day you can ever face,” Mr Gardam said.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your efforts.
“To the police and ambos that ran to my boy, it was too late, but I thank you very much for the assistance you provided.
“I hope you can somewhere lock this away in the back of your memory.”
Mr Gardam said he was not looking to lay blame, describing the circumstances as “out of the box”.
“I don’t think as a family we are pointing bones at anyone,” he said.
“The nature of the beast was just out of the box.
“I want to tell the fella concerned with the jumping castle that he went there in good faith. We understand his grief. He must be feeling bad.”
He issued a direct message to the jumping castle operator: “I just want you to know mate, s--t happens.”
Mr Gardam said he had fond memories of holidays spent at the family shack together, saying Zane enjoyed the great outdoors.
He brought a pillow taken from the bunk his grandson used to sleep in to the makeshift memorial site.
“I just can’t tear myself away from it at the moment,” he said.
“It is just a terrible ordeal. I’d like to describe it but words can’t encapsulate it.”
Mr Gardam said he was thinking of the other children who remained in critical condition in hospital.
“Hopefully we can get through this,” he said.
“(We need to) all keep praying.”
PM SHEDS TEAR FOR VICTIMS
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny were left visibly upset as they read cards and letters left outside Hillcrest Primary in tribute to the children killed in the freak jumping castle accident on Thursday.
Both wiped away a tear as they placed flowers under the school sign.
Mr Morrison was joined by Braddon MP Gavin Pearce and his wife and children.
The crowd on the street stayed silent as they watched Mr Morrison pay tribute while a few small children ran on the footpath.
Mr Morrison took his time and read all the cards and letters left by the devastated community before leaving his own message of sympathy.
“In loving memory of these beautiful children who are no longer with us. Our hearts break for the families and the community left behind,” the card read.
“Thinking of you all with love and sympathy. Jen, Scott, Abbey and Lily.”
Earlier, he expressed sympathy to the families of the victims of the tragedy.
Speaking at the launch of new Antarctic icebreaker RSV Nuyina on Saturday morning, Mr Morrison said the families’ pain was “unimaginable”.
“We need to respect their space and respect their privacy and how they wish to grieve,” he said.
“But Jenny and I will go there today, we’ll go there as the Prime Minister and as a couple, but also as parents, like any other parents who are coming along and paying their respects.”
Mr Morrison described the tragedy and the aftermath as a “terribly, terribly awful time for Tasmanians”.
“On behalf of Jenny and I and all Australians, I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the five young families in particular who have lost those precious young lives,” he said.
“We think of the entire community that is just heaving with sorrow.
“As I said yesterday, there are no words, only prayers.”
Mr Morrison announced $800,000 in funding support for families and the community who had been affected by the tragedy, including trauma counselling support.
It comes after Premier Peter Gutwein pledged $500,000 on Friday and convened the regional social recovery committee.
Mr Gutwein said the PM and other state premiers had reached out to offer support following the tragedy.
Meanwhile, the creator of a fundraising page set up to support victims of the Hillcrest Primary School tragedy has been left lost for words by the community’s generosity.
As of 11am on Saturday, the GoFundMe page established by 18-year-old Devonport local Zoe Smith has passed $1.1m from more than 15,000 individual donations.
“It’s way beyond anything I can comprehend,” she said.
“It started off as $1000 to help them through Christmas a little bit, then it went up to $10,000 and it’s just gone completely crazy.
“There’s no words to describe how generous people have been, and it really shows the support of the community and how it wants to rally behind the families affected and the school community.”
The Education Department issued a statement on Friday saying that following the tragic incident a decision had been made to ban the use of all jumping castles and inflatable amusement equipment on all Department of Education sites.
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