A teenager who miraculously survived the deadly Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle tragedy has died in a separate accident on New Year's Eve. Lucas Reid, aged 15, lost his life after the e-bike he was riding collided with a telephone pole in Devonport, north-west Tasmania.
Details of the fatal collision
The incident occurred at approximately 7:30pm on 31 December 2025 on a rural road in Devonport. Tasmanian Police confirmed that despite immediate assistance from a nearby resident, Lucas was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities stated their investigation is ongoing, but early indications point to a collision with the pole.
This tragic event comes just over four years after Lucas narrowly escaped death in the Hillcrest Primary School disaster. On 16 December 2021, a powerful gust of wind lifted an inflatable jumping castle 10 metres into the air during an end-of-year celebration. Six children—Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Zane Mellor, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan, and Peter Dodt—all in years five and six, were killed.
A survivor's painful legacy
Lucas Reid sustained serious injuries in the 2021 catastrophe. He spent weeks in hospital and subsequently needed to use a wheelchair after falling from the 'Taz-Zorb' inflatable. His resilience in the aftermath saw him meet his favourite AFL player, GWS Giants captain Toby Greene, at a fundraiser.
Greene paid an emotional tribute, describing the news as 'heartbreaking'. 'Lucas was such a great young man and had overcome so much,' Greene told The Mercury. 'His resilience and optimism really stood out. The GIANTS family extend our deepest sympathy to the Reid family and friends.'
Ongoing legal and commemorative proceedings
Lucas's death occurs against a backdrop of ongoing legal scrutiny of the Hillcrest incident. In June last year, Rosemary Gamble, the owner of the company that supplied the jumping castle, was found not guilty of breaching Tasmania's health and safety act. The court heard that only four pegs were used to secure the inflatable before it was caught by what was described as a 'mini tornado'.
A coronial inquest into the Hillcrest tragedy is scheduled for a hearing in April. Furthermore, plans are underway to establish a memorial approximately 4 kilometres away from the school, ensuring the community has a permanent place to remember the young lives lost and affected.
