Photos and names of the five children who tragically died in a jumping castle tragedy on Thursday have been released by Tasmania Police.
Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Zane Mellor, Jye Sheehan, Peter Dodt, all age 12, and Addison Stewart, 11, died when the jumping castle flew 10 meters away during a ‘mini tornado’ in Davenport, Tasmania.
A fundraiser set up by a local resident to help the grieving families of the victims reached over $700,000 in one day.
According to reports, three more children are still fighting for their lives at Royal Hobart Hospital.
The mother of a young boy who was next in line said she feels both guilty and relieved as her child survived.
“We all feel so heartbroken for the parents involved, and feel guilty that we are also relieved our children were not injured,” she expressed.
“The school had a jumping castle for school break-up last year as well. You wouldn’t dream a fun activity day would end like this.”
People who saw the incident said the parents wept and broke down when they heard what happened to their children.
Tamara Scott, Peter’s aunt, couldn’t contain her emotions when she explained that her nephew’s father, Andrew Dodth, was ‘beyond shattered.’
“He went to the school this morning to collect his school bag – he felt he had to do that, and he just cuddled it and cried,” she said.
“He’s unrepairable.”
Ms. Scott also said that her brother Andrew is a single dad with sole custody of his four kids, but he and the 12-year-old shared a very special bond.
“He loved his dad with everything he had,” she shared. “It was him and his dad against the world.”
Andrew took to Facebook and wrote a heartbreaking tribute to his son, writing: “My baby boy Peter Dodt has grown his wings this afternoon and left me so heartbroken.
“I would do anything in this world just to have him back.
“Dad loves you so much. Peter, till I see you again in heaven xxxx.”
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