The operator of a bouncy castle company in Australia has been found not guilty in connection with a tragic accident that claimed the lives of six children in December 2021. The incident occurred during a primary school fair at Hillcrest Primary School in Davenport, Tasmania, where strong winds lifted the inflatable structure into the air, causing it to fall about 10 meters to the ground.
Rosemary Anne Gamble, who runs the company Taz-Zorb, faced charges related to the incident but was cleared by a Tasmanian court. The court ruled that the accident was caused by an “unprecedented weather system” that was impossible to predict. During the event, five children were playing on the bouncy castle when it was suddenly blown away. The sixth child, who was in line to play, was struck by the machine used to inflate the bouncy castle.
The verdict has left the families of the victims devastated. Many parents expressed their disbelief in court after the ruling, with some crying out in anguish. The prosecution had argued that Gamble failed to secure the bouncy castle properly, while her defense team contended that no additional safety measures would have prevented the accident.
Magistrate Robert Webster sided with the defense, stating that while Gamble could have taken more precautions, the unforeseen nature of the dust devil—a type of whirlwind—was the primary cause of the tragedy. He emphasized that even with better safety measures, the outcome would not have changed.
The six children who lost their lives were all students at Hillcrest Primary School, aged between 11 and 12. The incident shocked the local community and drew national attention, with then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison calling it “unthinkably heartbreaking.”
Families have expressed their sorrow and frustration following the verdict. Andrew Dodt, the father of one of the victims, shared his pain, saying, “Our hopes are just shattered now.” He added that he longs for an apology for the loss of his son, feeling that the ruling has left him and others with a deep sense of grief.
Gamble’s lawyer acknowledged the emotional scars left by the incident, stating that the pain for the families will last a lifetime. Gamble herself, a mother, expressed her empathy for the families affected, saying that the tragedy is something she will carry with her forever.