THE horror bouncy castle tragedy that killed five kids in Australia was caused by a freak "mini tornado" that launched the inflatable into the air, a traumatised witness has claimed.

       Children were celebrating the last day of term at Hillcrest Primary School near Devonport, Tasmania when the freak accident occurred.

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       Jye Sheehan, 12, was also one of the victims Credit: Tasmania Police 3

       Peter Dodt, 12, lived in Devonport, Tasmania, with his dad Andrew and his sisters before he tragically died Credit: Tasmania Police

       An hour earlier, graduating students flocked to the jumping castle, inflatable zorba balls and water play activities as the fun celebrations kicked off.

       By 10.15am, the school had transformed into scenes of chaos as emergency crews rushed to the scene after the jumping castle was flung 10 metres into air.

       On Friday afternoon, police released the names of his classmates who died in the disaster - Zane Mellor, Peter Dodt, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, all age 12, and Addison Stewart, 11.

       Zane's step-mum Denitta Ryder told Daily Mail Australia that the 12-year-old was "an incredible young man" who loved fishing.

       One parent told The Australian: "They have called it a strong gust of wind, but it was more like a freak mini-tornado. And it seems like it was a freak accident."

       "Only yesterday my wife was at the school taking photos of the children before the summer break. They were all so happy … what has happened today is just so gut wrenching. Everyone is just in a state of shock."

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       The father described the scenes at his daughter's school as chaos.

       He said: "they were herding the kids from the schoolyard into the classrooms to get them away, but they had windows overlooking what was happening – so they had to move them again."

       Nearby residents recalled seeing the terrifying moment the jumping castle being swept up by the wind.

       Bob Smith told the Mercury: "Then I saw kids on the ground.

       "There was one really strong gust of wind on what is a beautiful calm day.

       "At first we thought it might have been an emergency services training exercise then the reality of what was happening kicked in."

       Tasmanian police has confirmed a "significant local wind event" contributed to the tragedy.

       "This is a very tragic event and our thoughts are with the families and the wider school community, and also our first responders," Commander Debbie Williams said.

       "There is no doubt that this has been a very confronting and distressing scene."

       Police haven't yet revealed how many children were on the jumping castle at the time or how the accident occurred.

       This isn't the first freak accident of this nature to occur.

       In 2019, a three-year-old girl was among four injured when a freak "tornado" sent two bouncy castles flying in a Yorkshire park.

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       Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, 12, who also died in the tragedy on Thursday morning Credit: Tasmania Police