**The devastating 2021 accident in Devonport continues to haunt families as legal proceedings conclude with no accountability for the operator.**
**Court Clears Bouncy Castle Operator in Fatal Tragedy That Claimed Six Young Lives**
**Court Clears Bouncy Castle Operator in Fatal Tragedy That Claimed Six Young Lives**
**A ruling absolves the operator of responsibility, attributing the incident to unpredictable weather conditions.**
The bouncy castle tragedy that struck Devonport in Tasmania in December 2021, resulting in the loss of six young lives and injuries to three others, has seen its operator, Rosemary Anne Gamble, exonerated of any wrongdoing. On Friday, a court determined that the calamity occurred due to an "unprecedented weather system," which was deemed "impossible to predict." The heartbreaking incident unfolded during a primary school fun day when the bouncy castle was lifted off the ground by fierce winds, causing the children aboard to plummet nearly 10 meters (about 33 feet) to the ground.
The ruling sparked profound anguish among the families of the victims, with some expressing their disbelief within the courtroom, as reported by ABC News. Ms. Gamble, owner of the inflatable amusement company Taz-Zorb, faced allegations of failing to secure the bouncy castle adequately. However, her legal defence maintained that no measures could have been implemented to anticipate or avert the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
Magistrate Robert Webster concurred with the defence, asserting that although Ms. Gamble could have potentially taken additional precautions, none would have influenced the outcome given the occurrence of an unforeseen dust devil—an unpredictable swirling vortex of air and debris. The victims included six children, ranging in ages from 11 to 12, who were participating in the fair as part of their end-of-term celebrations.
The horrific accident left a community shattered, as the small city of Devonport, with a population of about 30,000, mourned the premature loss of these young lives. Nearly two years post-incident, charges were brought against Ms. Gamble in November 2023. Andrew Dodt, the father of victim Peter, expressed his devastation following the acquittal, lamenting the absence of accountability. "Our hopes are just shattered now," he disclosed to local media, emphasizing his desire for an apology that will never come.
Ms. Gamble's attorney, Bethan Frake, conveyed that the tragedy inflicted permanent emotional scars, resonating deeply with both families and Ms. Gamble herself. "I can only imagine the pain that other parents are living with each and every day because of this terrible thing that happened," she quoted Ms. Gamble, who expressed collective grief for the families impacted by the tragedy, knowing it would weigh heavily on her conscience for the duration of her life.
The ruling sparked profound anguish among the families of the victims, with some expressing their disbelief within the courtroom, as reported by ABC News. Ms. Gamble, owner of the inflatable amusement company Taz-Zorb, faced allegations of failing to secure the bouncy castle adequately. However, her legal defence maintained that no measures could have been implemented to anticipate or avert the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
Magistrate Robert Webster concurred with the defence, asserting that although Ms. Gamble could have potentially taken additional precautions, none would have influenced the outcome given the occurrence of an unforeseen dust devil—an unpredictable swirling vortex of air and debris. The victims included six children, ranging in ages from 11 to 12, who were participating in the fair as part of their end-of-term celebrations.
The horrific accident left a community shattered, as the small city of Devonport, with a population of about 30,000, mourned the premature loss of these young lives. Nearly two years post-incident, charges were brought against Ms. Gamble in November 2023. Andrew Dodt, the father of victim Peter, expressed his devastation following the acquittal, lamenting the absence of accountability. "Our hopes are just shattered now," he disclosed to local media, emphasizing his desire for an apology that will never come.
Ms. Gamble's attorney, Bethan Frake, conveyed that the tragedy inflicted permanent emotional scars, resonating deeply with both families and Ms. Gamble herself. "I can only imagine the pain that other parents are living with each and every day because of this terrible thing that happened," she quoted Ms. Gamble, who expressed collective grief for the families impacted by the tragedy, knowing it would weigh heavily on her conscience for the duration of her life.
