“Our thoughts are with his family and the families and loved ones of all the children involved in what is going on at a difficult time,” Hine said.
The boy was one of nine children who fell 32 feet (10 m) from a bouncy castle carried by the wind during a year-end event at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport on the north coast of the state of Tasmania .
A total of six children died in this accident. Police said the condition of two children remained critical in the hospital, while the condition of one was recovering at home.
Police had earlier released the names and photographs of five other victims with the permission of their families. They are Addison Stewart, 11, and Jalalaiah Jane-Marie Jones, Jay Sheehan, Peter Dodd, and Jane Mailer, who was 12.
The cause of the tragedy is under investigation, including the strength of the wind at the time and how the castle was tied to the ground.
Commissioner Heine said the priority of the Devonport Criminal Investigation Branch would be to “interview all witnesses, collect forensic evidence and analyze all environmental aspects, including weather patterns and conditions at the time of the incident.”
“Given the magnitude of this serious incident and the need to speak to the large number of victimized children within a short period of time, we have accepted an offer from NSW Police to assist in conducting interviews in connection with the investigation,” said Hine. Said aid from the large state force of New South Wales.
According to the school’s Facebook page, the bouncy castle was one of several feasts organized for students as part of the “Big Day Inn”. Other activities included water play zones and zorb balls.
Hine said that “about 40” children were participating in the activities when a gust of wind lifted the castle off the ground. He said several adults were monitoring the incident and provided first aid until emergency services arrived.
The incident has shocked the country, with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison telling reporters soon after that it was “just unimaginably heartbreaking”.
,