5.9k Share this
An off-duty security guard remained behind at the site of a horrific jumping castle tragedy that left five children dead to console grieving families in Tasmania.
The security guard chose to remain behind for the entire night and offer hugs to mourners who visited a memorial set up at Devonport on Thursday night.
Tasmanian Police Commissioner Darren Hine confirmed five children died in the incident with the first victims identified as year six students Addison Stewart and classmate Zane.
Another five children were taken to hospital with four in a critical condition and one with serious injuries.
The incident sent shockwaves across the community with the first emergency responders brought to their knees by the terrible tragedy.
ABC news reporter Monte Bovill described devastated residents and families trying to console each other immediately following the incident.
Two police officers console each other at Hillcrest Primary School, in Tasmania, after four children were killed when a jumping castle flew ten metres into the air
Addison Stewart (pictured) was also one of the five students who was tragically killed when the jumping castle lifted 10 metres in the air
Zane has been identified as one of the victims in the Devonport jumping castle tragedy
‘Today was tough for many, but mostly for the Hillcrest community and first responders,’ he wrote on Twitter.
‘At the height of awfulness when I arrived, I put down my camera. A parent came up to me and hugged me. She sat with me and said “we’re human”.’
Tasmania Police said the children fell from a height of about 10 metres after the wind picked up the jumping castle and several inflatable zorb balls.
Commissioner Darren Hine said an investigation will take ‘some time’ as many witnesses needed to be interviewed.
Police have not revealed many details about how the incident unfolded.
‘We’ll be supplying a report to the coroner in conjunction with WorkSafe Tasmania,’ Commissioner Hine told reporters on Thursday afternoon.
‘That will take some time to complete and once that’s completed it will be handed to the coroner for an inquest.’
Tasmania’s Education Department will provide support to children, families and staff in coming days and into the school holidays, while counselling has also been offered to first responders.
‘Our approach is being guided by our senior psychologists, who are trained in trauma-informed practice,’ Secretary Tim Bullard said.
‘What has occurred is a tragedy and there are no words that I can give that would take away the grief that those impacted families are feeling right now.’
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein passed on his sympathies to loved ones.
‘On a day when schoolchildren were celebrating the end of term so close to Christmas, it’s simply inconceivable something this shocking has occurred,’ he said.
Hillcrest Primary School closed on Thursday and told parents to urgently pick up their children not long after the fatal accident.
Several rescue helicopters were used to transport the children to hospital.
Source: DailyMail
