Four school children die when a jumping castle is lifted into the air in Tasmania.

hollydolly said:
High winds...and the bouncy castle not being attached properly... in fact they're not supposed to employ a bouncy castle when there are high winds.. for this very reason
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There were only light winds. A "Wind Event" was responsible. A freak gust of wind picked up the castle.
Still no word on how the castle was tied down.
 
Bretrick said:
There were only light winds. A "Wind Event" was responsible. A freak gust of wind picked up the castle.
Still no word on how the castle was tied down.
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each time it's happened here, they reported that it was a 'sudden gust of wind''... the fact remains that the bouncy castle was not erected properly.. and I would imagine this is going to be what will be found in this tragic case also
 
Ronni said:
I’m assuming a jumping castle is the same as a bounce house here in the US?

How on earth does one lift into the air?
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Wind. Gusts coming from just the right angle can make these castles soar, just like a plane, My neighbor had one of those trampolines. It's large, steel constructed. and heavy. It was windy, and that thing flew like a Frisbee. It sailed from their yard, crashed into my shed, and came about 6 inches from crashing through my living room windows. I had to tie it to a tree. We had to tie it to a car to haul it back to his yard, because we couldn't lift it, but the wind could.
 
Update on this tragedy.
Another child has died taking the total to 6.
With 3 children still in a critical condition.
One child was able to go home from hospital.
Tasmanian school board has banned bouncy castles from all school events forever.
 
Bretrick said:
There were only light winds. A "Wind Event" was responsible. A freak gust of wind picked up the castle.
Still no word on how the castle was tied down.
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Some 40 years ago we were at a family fitness camp and our 17 year old daughter was out on a lake in a small sail boat. Also in the boat was a junior leader and an 11 year old boy. All of a sudden a southerly wind came roaring in at tremendous speed. It was also very loud and we could hear it before we felt it.

The little boat was capsized and the young leader was unable to right it. The three of them had to cling to the upturned hull for what seemed like half a life time as I watched from the shore while a motor boat was scrambled to go out to the middle of the lake to rescue them.

Obviously the boat would never gone out if the conditions had been bad. I can understand how a sudden southerly wind could appear out of nowhere and lift a jumping castle. It is tragic but not necessarily the result of neglect.
 
Warrigal said:
Some 40 years ago we were at a family fitness camp and our 17 year old daughter was out on a lake in a small sail boat. Also in the boat was a junior leader and an 11 year old boy. All of a sudden a southerly wind came roaring in at tremendous speed. It was also very loud and we could hear it before we felt it.

The little boat was capsized and the young leader was unable to right it. The three of them had to cling to the upturned hull for what seemed like half a life time as I watched from the shore while a motor boat was scrambled to go out to the middle of the lake to rescue them.

Obviously the boat would never gone out if the conditions had been bad. I can understand how a sudden southerly wind could appear out of nowhere and lift a jumping castle. It is tragic but not necessarily the result of neglect.
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the same thing happened in a town in the next county a few miles from where I live... with a Bouncy Castle... there was a freak gust of wind and one child died as the castle blew away and crushed her to death. The owners a young couple were jailed for 3 years for neglecting to ensure the castle was tied down adequately enough...
 
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I don't know about Tasmania but in NSW a licence is required to operate even a small bouncy castle. If the operators don't have the necessary licence and proper training they may be automatically found to be at fault.

Another boy has died which brings the death toll to six.
 
Warrigal said:
I don't know about Tasmania but in NSW a licence is required to operate even a small bouncy castle. If the operators don't have the necessary licence and proper training they may be automatically found to be at fault.

Another boy has died which brings the death toll to six.
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We are still awaiting the result of the investigation.
 

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