Four children have died and four have been left critically injured after they fell about 10 metres from a jumping castle that was blown into the air in north-west Tasmania.
Two girls and two boys, all in year 6, were confirmed dead by police on Thursday afternoon.
Police and emergency services were alerted to a serious incident at Hillcrest primary school in Devonport around 10am local time on Thursday.
Commander Debbie Williams spoke at the school on Thursday afternoon and described the scene as “distressing”.
“This is a very tragic event and our thoughts are with the families and the wider school community, and also our first responders,” Williams said.
“There is no doubt that this has been a very confronting and distressing scene.
“Counselling is being made available to the families affected by this in the school community along with the first responders.”
Several rescue helicopters were used to transport the children, while police units and multiple ambulance crews are at the scene.
People have been told to avoid the area.
Several children have fallen from a height of 10 metres, causing serious injuries, after the wind blew a jumping castle into the air at a primary school in Tasmania’s north-west @abcnews pic.twitter.com/tf01vevPab
— Monte Bovill (@MonteBovill) December 16, 2021
The school announced on Facebook it was closing for the remainder of Thursday and asked parents to urgently collect their children.
The school was holding a Big Day In celebration to mark the end of the school year.
The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, said the events were “shattering”.
“The events that occurred today in Devonport in Tasmania are just shattering. They are just unthinkably heartbreaking.
“Young children on a fun day out, together with their families and it turns to such horrific tragedy, at this time of year, it just breaks your heart.”
He said he had spoken to the Tasmanian premier, Peter Gutwein, who was on his way to Devonport, to offer his full support.
“I just want to say, to the parents and families and friends, all who were there, to the other young children there … I just pray you’ll have great family around you and great friends and you can come through this horrific tragedy.”
