What was supposed to be a fun day at a theme park on Australia's Gold Coast, turned out to be a day marred by tragedy. Although the ride was temporarily closed after the incident on 25 October 2016, it was later deemed to be closed indefinitely. [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. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. 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. For generations of families who have visited Dreamworld over the past few decades, the Thunder River Rapids ride was the go-to ride. Ride operators frantically tried to stop the ride but inadequate emergency features, including an over-riding stop button, meant it did not happen until after the raft flipped. Tweet. By 9NEWS. This station originally featured a rotating platform which allowed riders to mount and dismount the boats without the need for the boats to stop. "The nation was overcome with grief and everybody tried to piece together in their minds what happened to those innocent people as they were dragged into that machinery. Or did they drown? You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. The inquest also heard an emergency stop button on the main control panel of the ride was never checked by a maintenance supervisor. 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. On 9 November 2016, Ardent Leisures' CEO announced that the ride would not reopen, and was to be demolished. 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. 25 October 2016, 3:22 pm. 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 ride had endured frequent breakdowns in the days leading up to the accident, and had several design and construction issues which contributed. 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. To add to the systemic issues with the ride, state government regulators routinely signed off on audits of the Thunder River Rapids ride. [6] The ride consisted of several circular rafts which can carry up to 6 riders each. The fatal incident occurred after a water pump failed, dropping water levels and leaving a raft stranded on a conveyor belt. The Thunder River Rapids Ride is Australias only river rapids ride and opened in December 1986. The raft then went under the Eureka Mountain Mine Ride's station and headed back towards its own station. Former Dreamworld safety officer John Clark told the court he was aware of three patients and was performing resuscitation when he was made aware of a fourth person. The Dreamworld Thunder River Rapids ride. Thunder River Rapids Dreamworld . 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. 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 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. [25][26], In a report to the Queensland Coroner in October 2017, Police recommended that no criminal charges be laid against any person. [30] On the day before the scheduled trial, on 28 July 2020, Ardent Leisure pleaded guilty in the action. 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. 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. WebOvernight the popular Thunder River Rapids ride malfunctioned at the Dreamworld theme park in Australia, killing at least four people. 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. 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. Mr Green and Mr Clark are both taking legal action against Dreamworld, having engaged Shine Lawyers to sue the theme park for "psychological injuries" they suffered. 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. But showing they had not learned all the lessons from Australia's worst theme park accident since the death of seven people on a fire at the Ghost Ride at Sydney's Luna Park in 1979, Weiss and Johnson refused to take questions at the press conference. "It was passed down from the management meeting that we would do it that way," Murphy said, adding he didn't know when the order to extend it from two break downs in one day had been made, or why. After four riders were killed on it in late October 2016, the ride was closed. "[19], On 29 October, the Queensland Government announced a 'blitz' of safety inspections, and an audit of state workplace health and safety laws. She said the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor would have 12 months to decide what action would be taken against the owners of Dreamworld. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. A raft, which was travelling up a ramp with wooden slats, stalled in the lowering water. "Ms Turner was held dangling in her seat by the velcro seatbelt and Roozi Araghi and Cindy Low seated at the rear of the raft were pulled into the moving components.". "But my major concern about this in regards to the point I am trying to make is that staff say, supervisors don't care they are just out to get you.". This ended up stranding the empty raft that the doomed raft eventually collided with. SYDNEY - Four people were killed Tuesday after a river rapids ride malfunctioned at a popular theme park on Australias east coast, officials said. The Truth About The Deadly Dreamworld River Rapids Disaster. He said Ardent Leisure "may have committed an offence under workplace laws". A CT scan and toxicological testing was also conducted.7 26. "In all honesty if you had had the world's leading cardiothoracic surgeon, neurosurgeons, traumatic surgeons in that place at the exact time it happened and with all their equipment nothing would have changed the outcome," Mr Green said. Four people were crushed to death on a water ride at the Dreamworld theme park in 2016. They were reportedly both physically unharmed however they were sent to hospital and offered counselling. 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. This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021. Three of the four workers will give evidence at the inquest into the October 2016 incident. Kay Dibben Court reporter 2 min read 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. "I find that shoddy record-keeping was a contributing factor to this accident," he said. Queensland Coroner James McDougall's 274-page report laid bare systemic failures and a blind eye to safety from the top down at the company which ran Australia's largest theme park. It was later found that a water level sensor that could have prevented the accident would have cost less than $3,000. "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. 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. Mar 29, 2009. [citation needed]. Welcome to /r/submechanophobia; the fear of partially or fully submerged man-made objects, Press J to jump to the feed. A group of adults were crushed to death as their lazy river raft flipped on its side after smashing into another. 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 inquest was also shown a letter from on-site union representative, Jarad Drysdale, which was addressed to an email group titled "Dreamworld Operations Ideas". Both rafts pivoted upwards driven by movement of the conveyor before the first raft fell back to a level position resting on support rails. Although resembling an Intamin River rapids ride, Thunder River Rapids was neither built nor supplied by Intamin. 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. A second raft collided with the first raft causing it to flip. The inquest into the deaths of four people on the Thunder River Rapids ride at Dreamworld has been shown CCTV of the tragedy. Riders entered a long indoor queue with several switchbacks. ", For more incredible stories from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here. "Such a culpable culture can exist only when leadership from the board down are careless in respect of safety. [16] The 28 October reopening was cancelled on 27 October. The post-mortem examination revealed the presence of severe chest and abdominal injuries. Dreamworld Thunder River Rapids ride paramedics describe horrific scene after tragedy. 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. Thunder River Rapids had already broken down twice. Thunder River Rapids had already broken down twice. The area featured the Eureka Mountain Mine Ride and the Thunder River Rapids Ride. TrendRadars. To put it simply, Dreamworld's inadequacy and poor maintenance, likely resulted in the deaths of four people. Monday marks five years to the day that theme park goers were killed during a lazy river water ride at Dreamworld in Australia when their raft flipped and crushed them, Don't miss a thing! The Thunder River Rapids ride has been a cornerstone of Dreamworlds attraction over its 30-plus-year history. On 9 November 2016 it was shut permanently and later demolished, in a mark of respect for the families involved. The operator of Australia's Dreamworld theme park has been charged with safety breaches over a water ride malfunction that killed four people in 2016. In their own words, they accepted full responsibility and the consequences of their decisions. Dan Peled - AAP. [29], On 21 July 2020, it was announced that three charges had been laid against Ardent Leisure, Dreamworld's parent company. It would be cold comfort to the families of Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozi Araghi and Cindy Low, who lost their lives on arguably the tamest ride at the theme park. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The recovery of the bodies went on into the early hours of the next morning with some paramedics requiring counseling due to the trauma of 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. All four adults died yet the two children on board, aged 10 and 12, were able to climb out of the raft as it remained wedged vertically on its side. Can the dogs of Chernobyl teach us new tricks when it comes to our own survival? Mr Green also agreed that there was a "degree of financial constraint" that prevented him from doing his job effectively. A faulty water pump which had the ability to pump 4000 litres per second had resulted in dramatic water loss. The details of an earlier collision between empty rafts on a Dreamworld ride on which four people would die in 2016 are set to be revealed at an inquest into the fatal incident. 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. It was a savage rebuke to the listed company that such blatant disregard to safety could have been accepted and tolerated for decades. "It had broken down and we went back a couple of times to this particular ride," she said. 10:26pm Oct 26, 2016. An entire cycle on the Thunder River Rapids Ride lasted approximately 4 minutes. [29], he would refer Dreamworld's parent company, Ardent Leisure, to the Queensland Office of Industrial Relations. Dreamworld has basically lost over half of its regular attendance, https://www.courts.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/641830/10545784-final-dreamworld-draft-6-for-upload.pdf, Youll have to give me some time but Ill find the link to the coroners report these images were taken from, It's crazy that it took them so long to do the inquestI know it takes ages but just knowing how long it took is crazy. He has been granted day-release, Woman with 'world's biggest lips' warned 'they'll burst' as she gets more fillers, Andrea Ivanova began getting lip fillers back in 2018, with the hopes of looking like a Bratz doll. They also appointed a former Qantas safety executive Geoff Sartori, as safety adviser to the Ardent Leisure board. [13] The recovery of the bodies went on into the early hours of the next morning with some paramedics requiring counselling due to the trauma of the scene. A popular ride at Dreamworld for 34 years, it was advertised as family-friendly. The grieving families of the victims also delivered statements to the court. 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). TrendRadars. It was later found that a water level sensor that could have prevented the accident would have cost less than $3,000. Tweet. The court found Ardent had failed in its duty of care and should have taken steps to make the ride safer. 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 water pump on the Thunder River Rapids ride would fail for a third time that day, but this time with fatal consequences. 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. When it occurred in late 2016, Ardent Leisure became a text-book example of how not to deal with a crisis. It took emergency services including over seven paramedic crews until the early hours of the following morning to recover all of the severely disfigured casualties. Two children were flung free, but the four remaining adults died when the raft smashed onto the ramp. WebOmaha, retrieve Valkyrie's body and get her back to Dreamworld. The investigation is still ongoing. Key points: Dreamworld had a "systemic failure" in all safety aspects, coroner James McDougall ruled [9] The final settlement amount for $2.1 million to the family of one of the victims. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. [14], Dreamworld announced that the park would reopen on 28 October for a special memorial service for the victims. 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. Hopping on circular rafts, six passengers were sent along 450 metres of some pretty tame rapids for about four minutes. 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. Business; Politics; Military; Elections; Law; Immigration; Technology. He agreed that emergency responses were "drilled" into staff and there were regular audits of staff, where emergency situations were spoken about. The show must go on. A Dreamworld promotion for the ride describes people speeding up to 45km/h through turbulent rapids. The inquest into the deaths of four people on the Thunder River Rapids ride at Dreamworld has been shown CCTV of the tragedy. The queue then bridged across part of the ride's water storage area before reaching the circular station. some paramedics requiring counseling due to the trauma of the scene. 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 [34] Ardent Leisure reportedly paid out more than $5 million in compensation to the victims family as well as to emergency responders and witnesses. A boy's death this summer on Adventureland's Raging River ride wasn't unique: 21 serious accidents, 8 deaths have happened on rapids rides since 1984. Dreamworld's usually such a lovely park, but sadly not for everyone this week. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Mail. Likewise, the emergency stop button was never checked by a maintenance supervisor. The biggest thrill was you might get a bit wet. Tributes to the victims outside Dreamworld. Earlier, Dreamworld ride operator Stephen Buss was asked if he was aware of emergency stop procedures for Dreamworld ride. 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. Kate Goodchild was one of the four to die on the ride, Roozbeh Araghi died at the theme park on October 25 2016, Luke Dorsett fell from the raft to his death, The ride was shut down after the fatal incident, A makeshift floral tribute was created outside Dreamworld. The company was fined $3.6 million (2 million), which the Magistrate said reflected the severity of Ardent's failure. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Four people were killed while riding the Thunder River Rapids at Dreamworld in 2016. A paramedic who was one of the first on the scene at a fatal incident at Dreamworld says even the best doctors in the world would not have saved the four victims. 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. died almost instantly after the Thunder River Rapids Ride rafts collided, an inquiry heard in 2018. This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021. Following a four year investigation, Ardent Leisure which owns Australia's biggest theme park, was fined $3.6 million (2 million) over the horrific deaths. Business; Politics; Military; Elections; Law; Immigration; Technology. This is regarded as the worst accident at an Australian theme park since the 1979 Sydney Ghost Train fire at Luna Park Sydney. "It was simply a matter of time [before a fatal accident happened]. Coroner McDougall acknowledged that Ardent Leisure had since overhauled safety at the theme park where the Thunder River Rapids ride has permanently closed. Thunder River Rapids Dreamworld . (Ardent Leisure acquired Dreamworld in 1998.). Weiss said the company had agreed private financial settlements with a number of the victims' families. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 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. The main rapids section of the Thunder River Rapids Ride. "We are well progressed on the way to global best practice," Weiss told reporters. [18] The then Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull offered his condolences and support, releasing a statement via Twitter; "I'm very saddened by the tragedy at Dreamworld today. Three of the four first responders will take the stand to testify at the inquest into the Dreamworld tragedy something that's played heavily on their minds Ms Ibraheem said. 10:26pm Oct 26, 2016. draining the river, over 7 paramedic crews responded to the 000 call along with firefighters and police. This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021. The Most Interesting Articles, Mysteries and Discoveries. So has former Wallaby and fomer Bank of Queensland chairman Roger Davis, who chaired the company's safety committee at the time. Ardent Leisure CEO John Osborne (left) and Chairman Gary Weiss (right) leave Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday after hearing the coroner's scathing report. This continued movement pulled the raft that had the four adults (names mentioned above) and two kids toward the mechanism. A boy's death this summer on Adventureland's Raging River ride wasn't unique: 21 serious accidents, 8 deaths have happened on rapids rides since 1984. Terribly said. Facebook. draining the river, over 7 paramedic crews responded to the 000 call along with firefighters and police. A band of abrasions and bruising were found across the upper and mid trunk, as well as the corresponding area across the left upper arm. 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. Kay Dibben Court reporter 2 min read "One of the hardest memories for our clients to forget is the screams of the victims' family members who were right there wanting them to do more to save their loved ones. 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. The Thunder River Rapids Ride is Australias only river rapids ride and opened in December 1986. [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. 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. "We want to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again.". Three of the four workers will give evidence at the inquest into the October 2016 incident.
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