Tasmania bouncy castle tragedy: Uncle of young boy who survived freak accident shares heartwarming update on his recovery

A young boy who survived a freak accident at a Tasmanian primary school last week is recovering in hospital as the community continues to mourn the six children killed in the tragedy.

On Thursday, December 16, nine children were injured at Hillcrest Primary School in the Australian state of Tasmania when strong gusts of wind swept a bouncy castle and several zorb balls into the air, lifting the inflatables about 10 metres above the ground. 

The accident has claimed the lives of six students at the primary school, with the death of the sixth victim confirmed on December 19.

Now, just over a week after the tragedy, a relative of one of the injured children has shared a heartwarming update on his recovery in hospital.

David Best, the uncle of 12-year-old Declean Brown, shared the update on his nephew's condition to Facebook on Christmas Eve, saying it had been a "tough week" for the family.

"He has put up one hell of a fight and is now awake and has a long road ahead," Best wrote in the post, accompanied with two photos of Declean - including one of him eating a slice of pizza in his hospital bed.

"Well done little dude and enjoy that requested [pizza]," he wrote. "So proud of you. Stay strong and see you soon.

"My heart still breaks for the [families] that lost [their] loved ones."

According to local media, Declean and one other boy who was badly injured in the freak accident are no longer in intensive care, their conditions improving from critical to stable.

Another survivor, 12-year-old Beau Medcraft, broke both his arms and shattered his wrist when the inflatable equipment was lifted into the air. 

Declean Brown's uncle shared an update on his nephew's condition earlier this week after the 12-year-old was injured in the bouncy castle tragedy.
Declean Brown's uncle shared an update on his nephew's condition earlier this week after the 12-year-old was injured in the bouncy castle tragedy. Photo credit: Facebook / David Best

Six of the children's classmates died from their injuries - Addison Stewart and Chace Harrison, both 11, and Zane Mellor, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones and Peter Dodt, all 12. 

A funeral for Zane was held on Thursday and Jye was remembered at a service on Friday, according to reports. 

It's understood the funerals for Peter, Jalailah and Addison will be held in Devonport, the northern city where the primary school is located, after Christmas. 

Police and WorkSafe Tasmania continue to investigate the circumstances around the accident and will provide reports to the coroner.