Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Tasmania bouncy castle victim’s father wakes up from coma to learn of son’s death

The father will watch video of his son’s funeral when he is ‘stronger’

Maroosha Muzaffar
Friday 24 December 2021 02:39 EST
Comments
Related video: ‘The whole community is feeling this loss deeply’: Tasmania police

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A man who had been in a coma from an accident woke up to the news of his 12-year-old son’s death in a freak bouncy castle accident at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, Tasmania.

Glen Sheehan, the father of Jye Sheehan, was hospitalised just weeks before the accident.

Mr Sheehan was informed about his son’s death, but could not attend his son’s funeral and the memorial service that was held on Friday morning.

He had been in a car accident in November and was in a coma when the Hillcrest school bouncy castle tragedy happened.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Mr Sheehan had been told his injuries will leave him a paraplegic. He is still admitted at the Royal Hobart Hospital in Tasmania.

“Rest easy little man,” wrote one of Jye’s cousins on Facebook in a tribute, according to local media reports.

It was reported that Jye’s funeral on Christmas Eve was “short and poignant.”

A crowd comprising family members and supporters, including children his age from the community, gathered on Friday morning and remembered Jye as a fun-loving child who loved fried rice, soccer, playing video games, and talking to his dog after school.

A spokesperson for the Sheehan family said the father did not watch the live stream of the funeral from his hospital bed.

The spokesperson said Mr Sheehan will watch his son’s funeral with his wife Katrina when he is “stronger.”

One of Mr Sheehan’s cousins addressed the crowd on Friday morning.

“I am here today to speak on behalf of Glen. Unfortunately, Glen is in ICU in hospital in Hobart and is unable to attend his son’s funeral. Glen and Jye loved playing board games together, particularly chess and Uno. They loved watching movies.”

“I know if Glen was able to share his memories here today, it would be full of stories of adventures he and his son shared together,” the cousin added.

The family also thanked teachers at the Hillcrest Primary School who were first responders at the tragic bouncy castle accident that killed six children, aged 11 and 12.

Local media reported that the investigation into how the accident happened is expected to continue for some weeks.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in