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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. WebWBAL NewsRadio 1090/FM 101.5 - SYDNEY (AP) - Four people were killed Tuesday after a river rapids ride malfunctioned at a popular theme park on Australia's east coast, officials said. "Talk about staff having to pee at their rides, leaving their rides unattended and even being hospitalised with a kidney infection because of personals (sic) taking too long," he wrote. Thunder River Rapids had already broken down twice. Key points: Dreamworld had a "systemic failure" in all safety aspects, coroner James McDougall ruled I've never fully understood what the actual cause of death was. Dreamworld's own safety guidelines warned that the rafts could, one way or another, potentially tip over (via ABC News). A Dreamworld promotion for the ride describes people speeding up to 45km/h through turbulent rapids. This station originally featured a rotating platform which allowed riders to mount and dismount the boats without the need for the boats to stop. Mar 29, 2009. Dreamworld's usually such a lovely park, but sadly not for everyone this week. Home; News. The area featured the Eureka Mountain Mine Ride and the Thunder River Rapids Ride. "We are well progressed on the way to global best practice," Weiss told reporters. #14. The ride had endured frequent breakdowns in the days leading up to the accident, and had several design and construction issues which contributed. The investigation is still ongoing. Welcome to /r/submechanophobia; the fear of partially or fully submerged man-made objects, Press J to jump to the feed. On October 25 2016 one of the Thunder River Rapids ride's two large water pumps stopped working and so the water level suddenly dropped. This continued movement pulled the raft that had the four adults (names mentioned above) and two kids toward the mechanism. The four people killed on a ride at the Dreamworld theme park in 2016 died almost instantly, a preliminary hearing for the inquest has been told. TrendRadars. They so desperately wanted to do more, but the victims were gone.". WebDreamworld is a theme park and zoo situated on the Gold Coast in Queensland.It is Australia's biggest theme park with over 40 rides and attractions. Ardent Leisure CEO John Osborne (left) and Chairman Gary Weiss (right) leave Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday after hearing the coroner's scathing report. Yesterday, the court heard an employee admit Dreamworld had suffered a "total failure" to identify safety issues on the ill-fated Thunder River Rapids ride. Dreamworld which has always been the jewel in the crown of the Gold Coast theme park strip at Coomera would also build a memorial garden to honour those who died on the Thunder River Rapids ride. draining the river, over 7 paramedic crews responded to the 000 call along with firefighters and police. Thunder River Rapids had already broken down twice. This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021. Business; Politics; Military; Elections; Law; Immigration; Technology. Approximately one minute later, another raft carrying six passengers moved down the conveyor and collided with the first stranded raft. The other two passengers, both children, were able to climb out of the raft, still in its vertical orientation, to nearby platforms once the conveyor had been shut down by ride staff. 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. The 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.[3]. To put it simply, Dreamworld's inadequacy and poor maintenance, likely resulted in the deaths of four people. The second two-week block of the Dreamworld inquest started yesterday. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. The design and construction of Dreamworld's Thunder River Rapids ride posed a "significant risk" to patrons' safety and the park's systems were "frighteningly unsophisticated", a coroner has found. Home; News. Advertisement. This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021. When Ardent Leisure chairman Gary Weiss fronted the media on Monday afternoon following the damning coronial report, it was clear the company wanted to draw a line under the scandal. But like many other safety checks on the 30-year-old ride, staff did their best to open the ride again as quickly as possible. Four people were killed while riding the Thunder River Rapids at Dreamworld in 2016. [1][2] The ride was later dismantled and the location fenced off. Three of the four workers will give evidence at the inquest into the October 2016 incident. SYDNEY - Four people were killed Tuesday after a river rapids ride malfunctioned at a popular theme park on Australias east coast, officials said. A group of adults were crushed to death as their lazy river raft flipped on its side after smashing into another. This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The moment four people were killed in a horrific accident on the Thunder River Rapids ride at Dreamland on the Gold Coast was captured on CCTV. 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. Former safety and first aid officer Ben Hicks was on the stand when court adjourned for the day and will return on Thursday morning. Approximately one minute later, another raft carrying six passengers moved down the conveyor and collided with the first stranded raft. So has former Wallaby and fomer Bank of Queensland chairman Roger Davis, who chaired the company's safety committee at the time. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. "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. Likewise, the emergency stop button was never checked by a maintenance supervisor. [4] Due to the failure of one of the two large water pumps essential for the ride's operation, the water level in the ride dropped quickly causing a raft, which was occupied by six guests, to become stranded on support rails near the end of the raft conveyor and unable to reach the unloading area. Four people were killed while riding the Thunder River Rapids at Dreamworld in 2016. It's not clear whether Ardent Leisure has learnt all the lessons from the accident. WebA Dreamworld worker who pulled bodies from the water during the Thunder River Rapids disaster is suing the theme parks owners. 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. Then came another raft of six people about a minute later which crashed into it, before all 12 passengers found themselves being pulled upwards by the conveyor before the first raft stabilised on support rails. 10:26pm Oct 26, 2016. The water pumps which were crucial to ensure water levels on the Wild West-themed ride were kept safe had already failed twice. "It had broken down and we went back a couple of times to this particular ride," she said. "They would describe scenarios that were possible on the ride you know, pump stops and what you do, a guest falls in and what you do, a raft comes back and there's one less person, what you do," he said. [30] On the day before the scheduled trial, on 28 July 2020, Ardent Leisure pleaded guilty in the action. The grieving families of the victims also delivered statements to the court. The Thunder River Rapids ride has been a cornerstone of Dreamworlds attraction over its 30-plus-year history. To put it simply, Dreamworld's inadequacy and poor maintenance, likely resulted in the deaths of four people. [citation needed]. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Trio arrested during crackdown fall foul of national security law. The coroner said managers at Dreamworld had ignored previous incidents where there had been problems on the ride and not done anything to fix underlying causes. Four people were crushed to death on a water ride at the Dreamworld theme park in 2016. "Such a culpable culture can exist only when leadership from the board down are careless in respect of safety. Mr Guilfoyle said: "It ripped pieces of fibreglass from the raft which shook violently causing Ms Goodchild and Mr Dorsett to fall. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. WebOvernight the popular Thunder River Rapids ride malfunctioned at the Dreamworld theme park in Australia, killing at least four people. Three of the four workers will give evidence at the inquest into the October 2016 incident. A pair of children miraculously managed to survive the fatal incident at Dreamworld Australia, which was caused by the Thunder River Rapids ride malfunctioning. Mr Buss was sacked in 2014 for his role in an incident when two rafts containing visitors collided on the ride's conveyor belt, but no one was injured. Both rafts pivoted upwards driven by movement of the conveyor before the first raft fell back to a level position resting on support rails. By 9NEWS. A pair of children miraculously managed to survive the fatal incident at Dreamworld Australia, which was caused by the Thunder River Rapids ride malfunctioning. Canberra coach Ricky Stuart slams NRL, RLPA following further concussion controversy, Mr Green and Mr Clark are both taking legal action against Dreamworld, when two rafts containing visitors collided on the ride's conveyor belt, Dreamworld Thunder River Rapids ride triple-0 call revealed to inquest, Dreamworld inquest hears there was a 'total failure of everybody' to ensure ride's safety, Dreamworld inquest to probe earlier 'almost identical' incident of raft flipping, Dreamworld tragedy inquest: What we've heard so far, Dreamworld deaths could have been prevented 'by pressing button', Dreamworld ride operator felt 'pressured' not to talk to police after tragedy: inquiry, Theme park's electrical supervisor offers sympathies to victims' families, 'One patient turning blue': Details of triple-0 call heard at Dreamworld inquest, 'Total failure of everybody' to ensure Dreamworld rapids ride's safety, maintenance boss says, 'How dare they': Possum Magic author hits out at 'ridiculous' Roald Dahl edits, 'Dastardly and heinous crime': Philippines governor killed at home by unknown gunmen, Vanuatu hit by two cyclones and twin earthquakes in two days, Emily was studying law when she had to go to court. Coroner McDougall acknowledged that Ardent Leisure had since overhauled safety at the theme park where the Thunder River Rapids ride has permanently closed. (Supplied) 'Our heart aches daily' The families of the victims were invited by the coroner to address the court before the findings were handed down. 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. Riders board one of several six-person circular rafts and can be as young as two years-old. After four riders were killed on it in late October 2016, the ride was closed. [8], On 25 October 2016, a malfunction of the Thunder River Rapids Ride resulted in the deaths of four people. The design and construction of Dreamworld's Thunder River Rapids ride posed a "significant risk" to patrons' safety and the park's systems were "frighteningly unsophisticated", a coroner has found. died almost instantly after the Thunder River Rapids Ride rafts collided, an inquiry heard in 2018. A second raft collided with the first raft causing it to flip. "When I was attempting to resuscitate the patient I had, I don't know if the water receded or the gentleman floated up, but there was another patient," Mr Clark said. The post-mortem examination revealed the presence of severe chest and abdominal injuries. Kay Dibben Court reporter 2 min read "It had broken down and we went back a couple of times to this particular ride," she said. Dreamworld shut down for six weeks after the accident and demolished the Thunder River Rapids Ride, which had not had a comprehensive safety risk for more than 30 years, a coroner found. 25 October 2016, 3:22 pm. The inquest was also shown a letter from on-site union representative, Jarad Drysdale, which was addressed to an email group titled "Dreamworld Operations Ideas". 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. Business; Politics; Military; Elections; Law; Immigration; Technology. It was later found that a water level sensor that could have prevented the accident would have cost less than $3,000. Ardent Leisure, the parent company of Dreamworld, said it accepted responsibility and had worked to improve safety standards. The Thunder River Rapids ride has been a cornerstone of Dreamworlds attraction over its 30-plus-year history. draining the river, over 7 paramedic crews responded to the 000 call along with firefighters and police. This section ran alongside a large water catchment which contained the water storage for the Thunder River Rapids Ride. 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. Dreamworld visitor Lisa Walker said the Thunder River Rapids ride had broken down earlier in the day. 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 The worst theme park accident in 40 years was completely avoidable, according to a coroner's damning report. Former Dreamworld chief executive Craig Davidson and former Ardent Leisure chief executive Deborah Thomas in October 2016 after the accident. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. The inquest into the deaths of four people on the Thunder River Rapids ride at Dreamworld has been shown CCTV of the tragedy. A CT scan and toxicological testing was also conducted.7 26. In October 2017, police recommended that no criminal charges be laid against any person in relation to the deaths. The water pump on the Thunder River Rapids ride would fail for a third time that day, but this time with fatal consequences. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. That cannot be allowed," Coroner McDougall said. The raft is dispatched and the riders travel back past the rides queue and into a cave. The four people killed on a ride at the Dreamworld theme park in 2016 died almost instantly, a preliminary hearing for the inquest has been told. The operator of Australia's Dreamworld theme park has been fined A$3.6m (2m; $2.5m) over the deaths of four people on a malfunctioning water ride. "The victims' bodies were so badly disfigured from crush and compression injuries that these first aid officers were completely helpless, there was nothing they could do. WebDreamworld is a theme park and zoo situated on the Gold Coast in Queensland.It is Australia's biggest theme park with over 40 rides and attractions. A Dreamworld promotion for the ride describes people speeding up to 45km/h through turbulent rapids. The Thunder River Rapids Ride is Australias only river rapids ride and opened in December 1986. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. Counsel assisting Ken Fleming QC asked Naumann if there had been a "total failure by everybody" to identify risks with the ride. Upon exiting the cave, riders experienced the main rapids section of the ride. McDougall found there had been no proper safety assessment by a qualified engineer since the Thunder River Rapids ride opened in 1986 and during "ad hoc" modifications, which were never passed on to the regulator. This ended up stranding the empty raft that the doomed raft eventually collided with. The post-mortem examination revealed the presence of severe chest and abdominal injuries. Gold Rush Country (now known as the Town of Gold Rush) opened on 11 December 1986. Monday is the fifth year anniversary of a devastating theme park tragedy which claimed the lives of Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozbeh Araghi and Cindy Low. (Supplied) 'Our heart aches daily' The families of the victims were invited by the coroner to address the court before the findings were handed down. He said he realised the gravity of the situation the moment he arrived on the scene. Those on the second raft were not so lucky as it was dragged upright, forcing everyone to either fall out or become trapped between it and the conveyor mechanism. She stumbled when asked whether she had contacted victim's families, saying she "didn't know how to get in touch with them". The ride was 410 metres (1,350ft) long and had a maximum speed of 45 kilometres per hour (28mph). [23][24], On 9 November, Ardent Leisure chief executive Deborah Thomas announced that the ride would be permanently closed, out of respect to the victims and their families, and that they would be invited to help create a memorial in its place. On 9 November 2016, Ardent Leisures' CEO announced that the ride would not reopen, and was to be demolished. [17], Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate offered his condolences to the families of those affected and extended any support financially and emotionally to all those involved. The biggest thrill was you might get a bit wet. Weiss and Johnson did the right thing to front up to the handing down of the coroner's finding. Passengers would travel 30 mph on a 6-person raft before moving onto a conveyor belt that would bring them back up to the station they first entered from (via The Sun). Dreamworld visitor Lisa Walker said the Thunder River Rapids ride had broken down earlier in the day. [25][26], In a report to the Queensland Coroner in October 2017, Police recommended that no criminal charges be laid against any person. But he said the changes only highlighted how "rudimentary and deficient the safety management pratices in place at Dreamworld were prior to this tragedy". Facebook. [10] The bodies were badly disfigured from crush and compression injuries. Riders board one of several six-person circular rafts and can be as young as two years-old. A pair of children miraculously managed to survive the fatal incident at Dreamworld Australia, which was caused by the Thunder River Rapids ride malfunctioning. 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 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 Most Interesting Articles, Mysteries and Discoveries. The other two passengers, both children, were able to climb out of the raft, still in its vertical orientation, to nearby platforms once the conveyor had been shut down by ride staff. The letter detailed staff concerns that they did not have the support of management. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. In their own words, they accepted full responsibility and the consequences of their decisions. The post-mortem examination revealed the presence of severe chest and abdominal injuries. A police officer who was exposed to four dead bodies after the Dreamworld Thunder River Rapids ride tragedy in 2016 is suing the theme parks parent company. After four riders were killed on it in late October 2016, the ride was closed. For generations of families who have visited Dreamworld over the past few decades, the Thunder River Rapids ride was the go-to ride. Wide gaps on the wooden slats meant some passengers were thrown into the internal conveyor mechanism. Mail. Matthew Low, the wife of Cindy, said his family, including two children, were grateful for the years they had spent together, but were still coming to terms with the loss. TrendRadars. [31] Subsequently, in September 2020, they were fined $3.6m (US$2.8m) for the breach of the Work Health and Safety Act. Advertisement. 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