Lucas Reid: Boy who survived Hillcrest jumping castle tragedy dies in e-bike crash

Lucas Reid, the 15-year-old boy who survived Tasmania’s 2021 jumping castle tragedy, has died following an e-bike accident on New Year’s Eve.

The teen was riding his e-bike in Devenport in the state’s north west when it collided with a pole just after 8pm. Sadly, he died at the scene despite receiving help from a nearby resident.

“Our thoughts are with the rider’s family and loved ones,” a statement from Tasmania Police read.

Investigations into the crash are ongoing.

Lucas’ death comes just four years after he narrowly survived the Hillcrest Primary School tragedy, which killed six children and injured three others.

The students were enjoying their end-of-year celebrations when a freak wind gust lifted a jumping castle and zorb balls 10 metres into the air.

Hillcrest students Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Zane Mellor, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan, and Peter Dodt, who were in years five and six, passed away.

In the aftermath of the horrific incident, Lucas spent multiple weeks in hospital and needed to use a wheelchair because of the injuries he sustained, The Mercury reported.

A massive GWS Giants fan, the teen was invited into the change rooms to meet some of his favourite players, including captain Toby Greene, in June 2022.

Greene has offered his condolences to the Reid family.

“It is tragic news. Lucas was such a great young man and had to overcome so much,” he told the publication on Sunday.

“His resilience and optimism really stood out.

“We met many years ago, enjoyed staying in touch and the boys all loved seeing him at the games. The GIANTS family extend our deepest sympathy to the Reid family and friends.”

The latest tragedy comes just months after Rosemary Gamble, the owner of Taz-Zorb, which set up the equipment at Hillcrest, was found not guilty of failing to comply with a workplace health and safety duty, leaving the families of the six children killed “shattered and broken”.

Ms Gamble had pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged she exposed the children to a risk of death or serious injury, and faced a 10-day hearing in November 2024.

Magistrate Robert Webster ruled the incident occurred because of an unprecedented “dust devil” which was impossible to predict.

Ms Gamble “in some respects” failed to comply with her health and safety duties, he said.

“However, I am not satisfied, pursuant to (the charge) those failures were a substantial or significant cause of the children being exposed to the risk of serious injury or death,” he said.

Andrew Dodt, father of Peter Dodt, said he was shattered at the time of the court decision and there was still a long path to tread.

“I’ve been broken for a long time and I think I’m going to be broken for a lot more,” he said.