Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan, Peter Dodt, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones and Zane Mellor.Photo: GoFundMe' Tasmania Police
Australian authorities have identified the five children who tragically died afterwinds tossed a jumping castle 32 feet into the airat a primary school.
Ina post on Facebook, Tasmania Police on Friday confirmed that Addison Stewart, 11, Zane Mellor, 12, Jye Sheehan, 12, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, 12, and Peter Dodt, 12, all died in the incident on Thursday at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport.
“An absolute tragedy is the only way to describe this event,” Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hinesaid in a statement. “There’s no doubt this incident will leave its mark, and I know people are sending their thoughts and prayers from right across the country, and even further afield.”
The freak accident happened around 10 a.m. local time as “close to 40” fifth and sixth-graders were “taking part in the end of term activities,” according toTasmania Police.
A significant local wind event swept through the area, which caused a jumping castle and several inflatable “zorb” balls to lift into the air while the students were using them. Initially, police saidfour children had diedbut that number later rose to five.
Police are currently investigating the incident alongside WorkSafe Tasmania, and stated in Friday’s post that they are preparing a report for the coroner.
The Education Department also confirmed that a temporary ban on jumping castles at state schools would remain in place until the investigation was complete, according tonews.au.com.
“The Department of Education has policies and procedures in place in relation to holding a range of activities on school sites. These policies and procedures are reviewed and updated regularly,” the spokesperson said, per the outlet. “The Department of Education put a hold on the use of jumping castle-style equipment until the results of the investigation are known.”
In the wake of the students' identities being released, several tributes were made as the community expressed their heartbreak.
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Other GoFundMe pages, created in honor of each specific victim, were also launched, raising hundreds to thousands more for the families.
Mellor’s family friends said onhis GoFundMethat he “was such a beautiful, caring, gentle soul who had challenges growing up with his autism and ADHD, but that never set him back. He kept achieving.”
“He was at school enjoying his last day with his friends when tragedy would change many lives for always,” organizer Donna-marie Curtis wrote on the page. “Peter, being my nephew, this has hit home hard.”
“We know Tasmanians will come together to support each other at this difficult time,” Hine added. “Again, my heart goes out to all those affected, and my thoughts are with them.”
source: people.com
