Tasmanian jumping castle tragedy: Fortnite tribute read for Zane Mellor at his Devonport funeral

An extraordinary poem inspired by hit video game Fortnite was read out during the funeral for Tasmanian jumping castle victim Zane Mellor as a touching tribute to the dedicated gamer.  

Zane died along with five of his classmates after falling 10 metres from a jumping castle blown into the air by a freak gust of wind during end-of-year celebrations at Devonport's Hillcrest Primary School last Thursday. 

A week later, hundreds of friends and relatives gathered at Mersey Gardens Chapel at 10am to say goodbye to the 'adventurous' 12-year-old, whose small blue casket was decorated with white-painted controllers.

Mourners were told of how the Year 6 student, who lived with autism, had a fondness for animals and dinosaurs and was known as 'Jurassic Zane' to his online gaming network. 

In honour of his love for video games, the eulogist recited a verse about the determination of Fortnite players - the survival game involving multiple users engaging in combat until a single, winning player remains.

A 'Fortnite' poem was read out to hundred of mourners at the funeral for Tasmanian jumping castle tragedy victim Zane Mellor (pictured) in honour of his love for video games 

The poem (pictured inside the service pamphlet) read by the eulogist described the dedication of players who sign up to take part in the survival game 

Titled 'Fortnite', the passage described how 'friends unite to join the fight' by pairing up with fellow gamers as they enter the battle field before 'stay up all day and night' as they commit to completing missions.   

It went on to detail how participants never leave their room to 'see the light' while their virtual characters deal with 'fire coming in from left to right'.

'Building to the highest height.... If your health is growing finite, a cozy campfire you must ignite' the poem continued. 

'For those who know, there's no better delight, than the sweet satisfaction of winning Fortnite.' 

Georgie Gardam pictured (centre) being comforted outside Mersey Gardens Chapel, in Devonport, on Thursday before a funeral service to farewell her son Zane Mellor 

Tim Mellor (centre), Zane's father, was supported by a friend as he arrived for his son's funeral on Thursday 

Zane Mellor (pictured) was tragically killed along with five of his classmates last week after falling 10 metres from a jumping castle blown into the air by a gust of wind at Hillcrest Primary School

THE VIDEO GAME POEM DEDICATED TO ZANE MELLOR 

FORTNITE

Friends unite to join the fight

Land in tilted towers we might

Staying up all day and night 

Never leaving to see the light

Building to the highest height

Fire coming in from left to right

If your health is growing finite

A cozy campfire you must ignite

Soccer skin or black knight

All must fight as the storm grows tight

For those who know, there's no better delight

Thank the sweet satisfaction of winning Fortnite 

Loved ones smiled fondly as they listened to the ode and reflected on Zane's passion for electronic games. 

The poem, written by a fellow gamer, was first shared on social media three years ago before circulating around the gaming community. 

Earlier in the service, Zane's devastated mother Georgie Gardam fought back tears as she read a tribute to her firstborn child. 

'My baby, where do I start,' she began.  

'I was so young when I had you, only 15, and now I know why. You grew up with me, you held my hand.. you were my man of the house always, my protector, my strength, my gamer.

'I spoilt you rotten - Hawaiian pizza, McDonalds... some of your favourites. Everyone told me to get you off that PlayStation but I let you play until your heart was content and your eyes got sleepy.

'I love you Zaney. No matter what the weather, we're together.' 

PlayStation equipment and sunflowers adorned the top of the casket, while a poster of his favourite game - Red Dead Redemption II - was draped over the side. 

A heartbreaking slideshow of photos collected throughout Zane's 12 years of life was played during the service, accompanied by Cold Play song 'O'. 

The pictures showed the young boy fishing, gaming, riding on quad bikes with his family, and hugging his younger siblings and relatives. 

Zane's teacher remembered the Year 6 pupil as 'usually a quiet student who loved to draw' and whose favourite parts of the day were 'recess and lunch'. 

An avid gamer, his small blue coffin was decorated with PlayStation equipment and a poster from his favourite video game

Hundreds of mourners gathered at Devonport's Mersey Gardens Chapel on Thursday to say goodbye to the 12-year-old

Emotional friends and relatives of Zane Mellor embraced as they arrived at Mersey Gardens Chapel on Thursday

As the ceremony came to an end, family carried Zane's coffin out of the chapel and placed it into the back of a white hearse. 

Mourners watched on as the 12-year-old was driven away to his final resting place.   

Ms Gardham was comforted outside by loved ones who wrapped their arms around the grieving mother as she prepared to say her final goodbye to her son. 

Tim Mellor, Zane's father, was supported by a friend as the pair stood walked past the hearse, parked at the front of the building. 

fortnite jumping castle

Zane (pictured) was remembered as an 'adventurous' boy who loved gaming, dinosaurs and drawing  

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A group of mourners wearing black attire greet one another shortly after arriving for the 10am service

Hours before the memorial, Ms Gardam penned a gut-wrenching post on social media describing how she was struggling to find strength to be able to get through today. 

'Today will be one of the hardest days of my life,' she wrote.

'What do I weigh up... the day I lost you or the day I put you to rest. I'm not sure.

'Mummy loves you Zane , I know you are with me already, I don't know where I have pulled this strength from but I say it must be from you.'

Two women wrap an arm around each other as they make their way into the memorial service, where Zane's teacher described him as a 'usually quiet student who loved drawing' 

Two women hugged each other as loved ones prepared to say their final goodbye to the Year 6 student 

Zane and his peers Addison Stewart, 11, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, 12, Peter Dodt, 12, and Chace Harrison, 11, were celebrating their last day of primary school when their lives were tragically cut short.

Two surviving victims who were fighting for life in hospital were moved out of the intensive care unit on Thursday after spending a week in a critical condition.

Both are recovering from a multitude of injuries, including blunt force trauma, multiple broken bones, and internal injuries and are now stable at Royal Hobart Hospital.

Tasmania police are still investigating what led to the catastrophe and will prepare a brief for the coroner.   

Mourners flocked outside of the chapel to watch as the casket was placed into the back of a white hearse 

A mourner holds a service pamphlet decorated with graphics from Zane's favourite video game as he watches the coffin be taken out of the chapel 

The blue coffin was adorned with sunflowers and PlayStation equipment in honour of Zane's love for gaming 

Georgie Gardam (second left) is seen behind the hearse of her son Zane Mellor as it leaves his funeral

Zane's farewell comes a day after loved ones said goodbye to Jalailah Jayne-Maree in a service at local parish Church of Christ.

More than $1million has been raised through GoFundMe to be divided between the families of the dead and injured children.   

The federal government has also pledged $800,000 for counselling and mental health support to help those affected by the tragedy. 

Investigations continue into how the tragedy at Hillcrest Primary School last Thursday (pictured) unfolded