Australian bouncy castle operator cleared over 6 children's death
A gust of wind lifted the inflatable castle about 10m into the air at a primary school in Devonport in 2021. (AFP pic)
SYDNEY : An Australian woman whose bouncy castle was blown into the air by a freak wind event, killing six children, was found not guilty today of failing to meet her health and safety duties.
In December 2021, a gust of wind lifted the inflatable castle about 10m into the air while children were celebrating the end of their year at a primary school in Devonport, northern Tasmania.
Six children died and three were seriously injured.
Rosemary Gamble, owner of party equipment company Taz-Zorb that operated the bouncy castle, was charged with failing to comply with a workplace health and safety duty.
She pleaded not guilty and today the Devonport magistrates' court dismissed the charges against her.
Magistrate Robert Webster said the bouncy castle was lifted into the air by an 'unprecedented weather system, namely a dust devil'.
'Gamble could have done more or taken further steps however given the effects of the unforeseen and unforeseeable dust devil, had she done so, that would sadly have made no difference to the ultimate outcome,' Webster said in his decision.
'In those circumstances, I find the charge is not proved. It is therefore dismissed.'
Gamble said she accepted how 'deeply and tragically this incident impacted so many people and families'.
'I realise those scars will remain for an extremely long time, likely forever,' she said in a statement to the Australian national broadcaster ABC.
'There are no words to describe how I have felt ever since that tragic incident took so much away from so many people and left nothing but heartbreak and emptiness in its place.
'I never meant for something like this to happen. And I am just so sorry that it did.'
Andrew Dodt, the father of one of the children who died in the incident, said he had been 'broken for a long time'.
'And I think I'm going to be broken for a lot more,' Dodt said in a statement to the ABC.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Blackout, then blaze: What led up to the fatal fire that claimed the life of Hamzah Zainudin's mother-in-law in Ipoh home
IPOH, June 20 — The home of Larut MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin's in-laws in Kampung Sungai Rapat Tambahan here reportedly experienced a power outage before it caught fire last night. The blaze claimed the life of Hamzah's mother-in-law, Datin Salmiah Nyak Matt, 84, while her husband, Datuk Abdul Ghani Ngah, 83, suffered from breathing difficulties. Their son, Ahmad Ikhwan, 57, said his youngest sibling, who lives at the house, told him the incident occurred at about 9.15pm. 'My brother went out to check on the neighbours, thinking there was a blackout in the whole area, but there wasn't. 'Then he saw thick smoke coming out of mum's room. He rushed back in and saw the room was already filled with smoke,' he told reporters here today. Ahmad Ikhwan said his father is currently receiving treatment at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) here. He added that his mother's remains will be buried at the Kampung Rapat Jaya Muslim cemetery after funeral prayers at Masjid Jamek Kampung Melayu Sungai Rapat today. Meanwhile, Hamzah was seen arriving at the HRPB Forensics Department with his wife, Datin Seri Norashikin Abdul Ghani, before accompanying the hearse to the mosque. Earlier, Ipoh police chief ACP Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the police received an emergency call at 9.19pm and confirmed that the fire involved a two-storey house. The incident involved six individuals, four of whom, aged between 18 and 49, escaped unharmed. — Bernama
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Family member says blackout struck Hamzah Zainudin's in-laws' home moments before fatal fire
IPOH, June 20 — The home of Larut MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin's in-laws in Kampung Sungai Rapat Tambahan here reportedly experienced a power outage before it caught fire last night. The blaze claimed the life of Hamzah's mother-in-law, Datin Salmiah Nyak Matt, 84, while her husband, Datuk Abdul Ghani Ngah, 83, suffered from breathing difficulties. Their son, Ahmad Ikhwan, 57, said his youngest sibling, who lives at the house, told him the incident occurred at about 9.15pm. 'My brother went out to check on the neighbours, thinking there was a blackout in the whole area, but there wasn't. 'Then he saw thick smoke coming out of mum's room. He rushed back in and saw the room was already filled with smoke,' he told reporters here today. Ahmad Ikhwan said his father is currently receiving treatment at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) here. He added that his mother's remains will be buried at the Kampung Rapat Jaya Muslim cemetery after funeral prayers at Masjid Jamek Kampung Melayu Sungai Rapat today. Meanwhile, Hamzah was seen arriving at the HRPB Forensics Department with his wife, Datin Seri Norashikin Abdul Ghani, before accompanying the hearse to the mosque. Earlier, Ipoh police chief ACP Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the police received an emergency call at 9.19pm and confirmed that the fire involved a two-storey house. The incident involved six individuals, four of whom, aged between 18 and 49, escaped unharmed. — Bernama
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Larut MP Hamzah Zainudin's mother-in-law dies in house fire in Ipoh, husband hospitalised while four others rescued
IPOH, June 20 — The mother-in-law of Larut MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, died in a fire that broke out at a two-storey house on Jalan Raja Abdullah, Kampung Sungai Rapat Tambahan here last night. Bernama reported Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director Sayani Saidon confirming the incident, stating that the deceased has been identified as 84-year-old Salmiah Nyak Matt. Her husband, Abdul Ghani Ngah, is currently receiving treatment at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB). 'The deceased is the mother-in-law (of Hamzah),' she said briefly via WhatsApp. Sayani added that four other individuals were involved in the incident — three men and one woman. 'One of the victims, an 83-year-old elderly man who was in an upstairs room, suffered breathing difficulties and was taken to hospital by the Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS),' she said. She added that the operation concluded at 2.02am. Meanwhile, Ipoh District Police Chief ACP Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said authorities received an emergency call about the fire at 9.19pm. Preliminary investigations conducted with the Fire Department's forensic unit confirmed that the blaze involved a two-storey house occupied by a family of six. 'Four other family members, aged between 18 and 49, were rescued and did not sustain any injuries,' he said. Abang Zainal Abidin added that further investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire, and the case has been classified as sudden death (SDR). He also urged members of the public with any information to contact the Ipoh District Control Centre (DCC) at 05-2542222.
