A court in Tasmania has acquitted Rosemary Anne Gamble, operator of Taz-Zorb, of safety law violations related to a bouncy castle disaster that resulted in the deaths of six children during a school fair in 2021. The judge determined that an unpredictable dust devil was the cause of the tragic event, leaving grieving families and the community seeking closure.
Bouncy Castle Tragedy: Operator Acquitted Following Court Ruling
Bouncy Castle Tragedy: Operator Acquitted Following Court Ruling
An Australian court finds bouncy castle operator not guilty in connection to a tragic incident that took the lives of six children in 2021.
In December 2021, a bouncy castle lifted into the air during a primary school fair in Devonport, Tasmania, leading to a devastating tragedy that left six children dead and three critically injured. Rosemary Anne Gamble, the operator of the bouncy castle, faced accusations of failing to adequately secure the inflatable, which prosecutors allege contributed to the disaster. Yet, in a recent court ruling, the magistrate concluded that the incident was a result of an "unforeseen and unforeseeable" dust devil, thereby clearing Gamble of all charges.
During the fun day at Hillcrest Primary School, strong winds propelled the bouncy castle approximately 10 meters into the air, claiming the lives of six young victims aged 11 to 12. Five children were actively playing on the castle when it was swept away, while another was fatally injured by a flying object. The ruling on Friday has sparked deep emotional responses among the victims' families, who have expressed their anguish and sense of injustice in court.
Gamble’s defense argued that she had taken all reasonable precautions to ensure safety, emphasizing that no amount of additional anchoring could have prevented the outcome of such an unpredictable weather event. Despite the lack of legal culpability, Gamble's acknowledgment of the tragedy and its impact was emphasized through her legal representative, who conveyed her ongoing sorrow for the families affected by the disaster.
One grieving father, Andrew Dodt, whose son was a victim, expressed his devastation over the ruling, noting that he simply sought an apology for the loss of his child and lamenting that his hopes had been shattered. The community of Devonport, which has approximately 30,000 residents, continues to mourn the loss of its young children, while reflecting on the lasting scars from the tragic event and its repercussions for all involved.
During the fun day at Hillcrest Primary School, strong winds propelled the bouncy castle approximately 10 meters into the air, claiming the lives of six young victims aged 11 to 12. Five children were actively playing on the castle when it was swept away, while another was fatally injured by a flying object. The ruling on Friday has sparked deep emotional responses among the victims' families, who have expressed their anguish and sense of injustice in court.
Gamble’s defense argued that she had taken all reasonable precautions to ensure safety, emphasizing that no amount of additional anchoring could have prevented the outcome of such an unpredictable weather event. Despite the lack of legal culpability, Gamble's acknowledgment of the tragedy and its impact was emphasized through her legal representative, who conveyed her ongoing sorrow for the families affected by the disaster.
One grieving father, Andrew Dodt, whose son was a victim, expressed his devastation over the ruling, noting that he simply sought an apology for the loss of his child and lamenting that his hopes had been shattered. The community of Devonport, which has approximately 30,000 residents, continues to mourn the loss of its young children, while reflecting on the lasting scars from the tragic event and its repercussions for all involved.
