Rosemary Anne Gamble, the operator of Taz-Zorb, has been cleared of any safety violations in a 2021 bouncy castle accident that resulted in the deaths of six children. The court attributed the tragedy to an unforeseen weather phenomenon, leaving grieving families seeking answers.
Bouncy Castle Operator Exonerated in Heartbreaking Tragedy That Took Six Young Lives
Bouncy Castle Operator Exonerated in Heartbreaking Tragedy That Took Six Young Lives
A court ruling dismisses safety breach charges against the bouncy castle operator involved in a tragic incident that left six children dead in Tasmania.
The bouncy castle tragedy that gripped Devonport, Tasmania, has led to profound sorrow among the families of six children who lost their lives in a shocking accident during a primary school fair in December 2021. An Australian court has cleared bouncy castle operator Rosemary Anne Gamble of charges of breaching safety laws, finding that the incident was caused by an "unprecedented weather system" that was deemed "impossible to predict."
The devastating event occurred when the bouncy castle, situated at Hillcrest Primary School during a fair on the last day of term, was swept into the air by a dust devil—a rapidly spiraling vortex of air and debris—taking the children with it. Five of them were playing on the inflatable when it lifted, while another was seriously injured as he was waiting in line, hit by an inflatable blower that became detached during the chaos.
Families were left reeling from the court's Friday verdict, with many expressing disbelief and heartbreak. Prosecutors had contended that Ms. Gamble failed to adequately secure the bouncy castle. However, her defense argued that no preventive measures could have mitigated the effects of such an unforeseeable weather occurrence. Magistrate Robert Webster sided with that assessment, stating that while Ms. Gamble might have done more, it would not have changed the tragic outcome.
The six children who lost their lives—Addison Stewart, Zane Mellor, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Peter Dodt, and Chace Harrison—were all aged between 11 and 12, amplifying the community’s grief in the city of about 30,000 residents. Following the verdict, Andrew Dodt, who lost his son Peter in the incident, expressed deep sorrow, saying, “Our hopes are just shattered now.” He yearns for an acknowledgment of his loss, stating, “I’m never going to get it, and that kills me.”
Ms. Gamble’s representative extended condolences to the families, acknowledging the profound pain and long-lasting scars resulting from this unfortunate incident. “I can only imagine the pain that other parents are living with each and every day because of this terrible thing that happened,” said lawyer Bethan Frake, conveying a sense of shared sorrow while reiterating the monumental impact of that fateful day.
The incident remains one of Australia’s most heartbreaking stories, turning a day of fun into a tragedy that none will soon forget.
