Australian authorities have charged the company that operated the bouncy castle in 2021 that killed six children when strong winds tossed the inflatable structure into the air.
The company, Taz-Zorb, is charged with breaching occupational safety and health legislation, said Robyn Pearce, occupational health and safety regulator in the state of Tasmania, where the tragedy took place.
Strong winds tossed the large bouncy castle into the air at a school’s year-end function in December 2021. Ultimately, six children between 11 and 12 years old died.
The authorities said at that stage that the children were thrown from a height of approximately 10 m.
Prosecutors filed a complaint against Taz-Zorb alleging that the company “exposed the children to the risk of death or serious injury,” Pearce said in a statement.
“Over the past year, I have continuously met the parents of the children who died or were injured in the incident and I want to once again express my deepest condolences to each and every one of them.”
The company can be fined up to AUS$1 million (about R11.9 million) for the alleged breach.
