Three of the four workers will give evidence at the inquest into the October 2016 incident. [34] Ardent Leisure reportedly paid out more than $5 million in compensation to the victims family as well as to emergency responders and witnesses. Four former Dreamworld workers are suing the Gold Coast theme park, two years after they witnessed the horror of four people dying on the Thunder River Rapids ride. This is regarded as the worst accident at an Australian theme park since the 1979 Sydney Ghost Train fire at Luna Park Sydney. A raft, which was travelling up a ramp with wooden slats, stalled in the lowering water. Weiss said the company had agreed private financial settlements with a number of the victims' families. [8], On 25 October 2016, a malfunction of the Thunder River Rapids Ride resulted in the deaths of four people. Dreamworld owner Ardent Leisure was fined a record A$3.6 million last September after pleading guilty to breaching workplace health and safety laws over the Thunder River Rapids ride tragedy. The water pump on the Thunder River Rapids ride would fail for a third time that day, but this time with fatal consequences. A CT scan and toxicological testing was also conducted.7 26. The investigation is still ongoing. The Thunder River Rapids ride has been a cornerstone of Dreamworlds attraction over its 30-plus-year history. WebABOUT 2.15pm on Tuesday, a man called Ben was crossing a footbridge above Dreamworlds Thunder River Rapid Ride when he glanced down at a raft floating by. He said he realised the gravity of the situation the moment he arrived on the scene. WebThe Thunder River Rapids Ride was a river rapid type water ride located in the Town of Gold Rush section of the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. [4] The Thunder River Rapids Ride was among the most popular rides at Dreamworld until its closure.[5]. [21][22] However, it was later reopened on 26 October after a review and safety check was completed. 10:26pm Oct 26, 2016. There had been serious incidents where rafts had also flipped in 2001, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2014, but no action was taken to fix the fundamental problem. The coroner's report makes sombre reading for a company that prided itself on being a modern, safe theme park operator. The Thunder River Rapids ride at Dreamworld has been closed following the deaths Two men and two women have been killed on a ride at a theme park on Australia's east coast. Even the maintenance planner concluded that the ride was unsafe. The public faces of Ardent Leisure at the time of the 2016 accident, including former chief executive and magazine doyen Deborah Thomas, chairman Neil Balnaves and Dreamworld chief executive Craig Davidson have all moved on. The matter was first heard on July 29 in Southport Magistrates Court. The water pump on the Thunder River Rapids ride would fail for a third time that day, but this time with fatal consequences. Two of the victims were siblings, and I can't even begin to imagine how horrific this is for that family, and also the families of the other two victims. WebFour former Dreamworld workers are suing the Gold Coast theme park, two years after they witnessed the entire horror of four people dying on the Thunder River Rapids ride. She stumbled when asked whether she had contacted victim's families, saying she "didn't know how to get in touch with them". This article is about the river rapids at Dreamworld. The ride was staffed by two operators, 38-year-old Peter Nemeth, an experienced ride operator who had worked at Dreamworld for four years. Key points: Dreamworld had a "systemic failure" in all safety aspects, coroner James McDougall ruled The deaths of Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett and Roozi Araghi are under examination at a coronial inquest on the Gold Coast after the group were killed instantly when their raft collided with an empty vessel and flipped backwards in Former safety and first aid officer Ben Hicks was on the stand when court adjourned for the day and will return on Thursday morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families. The shocking accident which has resulted in a dramatic fall in visitors to the theme park over the past four years has also resulted in a regulatory overhaul of the theme park sector in Queensland. The Thunder River Rapids ride at Dreamworld has been closed following the deaths Two men and two women have been killed on a ride at a theme park on Australia's east coast. "The lead-up to this week has been incredibly distressing, it's a date that has played on their minds for nearly two years," she said. A Dreamworld promotion for the ride describes people speeding up to 45km/h through turbulent rapids. Or did they drown? A Sydney-based company was commissioned to supply the vessels in 1983. Riders board one of several six-person circular rafts and can be as young as two years-old. Shine Lawyers' solicitor Tina Ibraheem told news.com.au the four first responders' "level of trauma is beyond anything I have ever seen". Dreamworld owner Ardent Leisure was fined a record A$3.6 million last September after pleading guilty to breaching workplace health and safety laws over the Thunder River Rapids ride tragedy. [14], Dreamworld announced that the park would reopen on 28 October for a special memorial service for the victims. The 18-year-old's body was found days later, in a shallow grave. The Truth About The Deadly Dreamworld River Rapids Disaster. The fatal incident occurred after a water pump failed, dropping water levels and leaving a raft stranded on a conveyor belt. Dreamworld's usually such a lovely park, but sadly not for everyone this week. A second raft collided with the first raft causing it to flip. The bodies were so disfigured, that there was nothing first responders could have done to save them (viaThe New Zealand Herald). Dan Peled - AAP. Operators failed to shut down the conveyor belt before the raft containing the four victims collided with it, forcing both rafts to flip and the visitors to suffer fatal injuries in the ride's machinery. Andrew James Mainey said while working as a Gold Coast police officer, he was sent to the scene of the carnage on October 25, 2016, to assist paramedics and first responders. The bodies of four people who died at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast have been released to families for burial, Queensland police confirm. The coroner's report found Dreamworld's safety supervisor, who left the company just before the accident, had overseen a safety regime that wasn't up to scratch. Attractions ranges from thrill rides such as The Claw and Pandamonium to family and kids attractions such as the Dreamworld Express and Sky Voyager.Among the 40+ attractions includes the world's The second raft was further moved by the conveyor into a vertical position and subsequently caused passengers to either fall out of the raft or become trapped in close proximity to the conveyor mechanism leading to fatal injuries for four passengers. By 9NEWS. [27], The Queensland Coroner, James McDougall, released a report on 24 February 2020 detailing "irresponsible", "dangerous" and "inadequate" safety practices at the theme park that contributed to the four deaths, while recommending the Queensland office of industrial relations consider a prosecution. Ardent Leisure, which also owns WhiteWater World on the Gold Coast and Main Event bowling assets, could face a fine of up to $3 million and executives could be jailed, according to Queensland Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace. 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