The operator of a jumping castle involved in a tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of six children has been acquitted of breaching workplace safety laws. Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Zane Mellor, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan, and Peter Dodt lost their lives in December 2021 when a strong wind gust lifted the jumping castle into the air at Hillcrest primary school in Devonport, Tasmania. Three other children sustained serious injuries during the incident.
Rosemary Gamble, the owner of Taz-Zorb, the company responsible for setting up the equipment, faced charges of failing to meet her workplace health and safety duties. She pleaded not guilty. Magistrate Robert Webster cleared Gamble of the charge, stating that it was not proven and was therefore dismissed.
The trial had taken place in November, where it was argued that Gamble had only secured four of the eight anchor points, contrary to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Gamble’s lawyer claimed that the manufacturer from China had failed to provide enough instructions and had supplied only four pegs.
The preparations for an inquest had been paused due to the ongoing criminal proceedings, and a class action lawsuit has been initiated against Gamble and the state of Tasmania.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/06/woman-who-set-up-hillcrest-jumping-castle-not-guilty-following-deaths-of-six-primary-school-students-in-tasmania-ntwnfb
