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Inquest hears police officer describe 'organised chaos' after Tasmania jumping castle tragedy

First Class Constable Dean Wotherspoon tells coroner it was the worst mass casualty event he had seen in nearly 30 years of service

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
A police officer has told an inquest that the scene at Hillcrest Primary School after a freak wind gust tossed a jumping castle during end-of-year celebrations was 'like nothing I'd seen' in almost three decades on the force. First Class Constable Dean Wotherspoon gave evidence on Wednesday before Coroner Olivia McTaggart, describing the response as 'organised chaos' as emergency personnel and school staff fought to save the children.

The inquest into the deaths of six children who died when a jumping castle was lifted by a gust of wind at Hillcrest Primary School in north-west Tasmania on December 16, 2021, continued on Wednesday with testimony from one of the first police officers on the scene.

First Class Constable Dean Wotherspoon told Coroner Olivia McTaggart that he had been attending a fatal car crash south of Ulverstone when all available resources were called to the school. He arrived around 10:30am and described the scene as unprecedented.

"It was like nothing I'd seen. Unprecedented, in my career," he said. "I'd never been exposed to another mass casualty event of such scale."

Constable Wotherspoon, who has been a police officer since 1995, said he had given thought to how to describe the scene and settled on "organised chaos". He noted there were many people doing their utmost to save the children, including police officers, school staff and paramedics.

The children who died were Addison Stewart, Chace Harrison, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Peter Dodt and Zane Mellor. Three other students were seriously injured.

The inquest continues.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The inquest seeks to determine the circumstances of a tragedy that devastated a small Tasmanian community and raised questions about safety protocols for inflatable amusement devices at schools.
  • Findings could lead to regulatory changes or recommendations for the operation of jumping castles and similar equipment in school settings nationwide.
  • The detailed accounts from first responders provide critical evidence about the response and the events leading up to the incident.

Background

The Hillcrest Primary School tragedy occurred on December 16, 2021, during end-of-year celebrations in Devonport, Tasmania. A sudden gust of wind lifted a jumping castle into the air, throwing several students from a height. Six children aged between 10 and 12 died, and three others were injured. The incident prompted widespread grief and an immediate review of safety guidelines for inflatable play equipment in schools. The coronial inquest began years later, examining the events of that day and the adequacy of existing safety measures.

Key Perspectives

Families of the victims: The inquest provides a formal process to understand exactly what happened and to seek accountability. Many families have waited years for answers. First responders (police, paramedics, school staff): They describe a chaotic, traumatic scene where they acted quickly under intense pressure. Their testimony highlights the challenges of mass casualty events in a small community. Coroner and safety advocates: The inquest will examine whether existing regulations for anchoring and operating jumping castles were sufficient, and whether any changes are needed to prevent similar tragedies.

What to Watch

  • Whether the coroner makes recommendations for stronger mandatory safety standards for inflatables in school and public settings.
  • Any evidence about who was responsible for setting up and securing the jumping castle, and what training or guidelines were in place.
  • The response from Tasmanian authorities and the education department to any findings or recommendations.

Sources

Zotpaper

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