Help using this website - Accessibility statement. 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. Develop 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. By 9NEWS. 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. There were already problems with the Thunder River Rapids ride at Dreamworld on October 25, 2016, when the Goodchild, Dorsett and Low families arrived to experience one of the theme park's favourite rides. 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. 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. authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. The coroner's report makes sombre reading for a company that prided itself on being a modern, safe theme park operator. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families that have lost their loved ones on the Thunder River Rapids Ride R.I.P. Chief executive John Osborne said: "Ardent accepts responsibility for this tragedy, and we fully accept the consequences. Oct 25, 2016. 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. Dreamworld released a statement on their website and Facebook page stating: Dreamworld is currently closed until further notice due to an incident at the park. Dreamworld's own safety guidelines warned that the rafts could, one way or another, potentially tip over (via ABC News). According to the New Zealand Herald, operators failed to shut down the conveyor belt, which ultimately led to the collision and flip of the rafts. Coroner McDougall acknowledged that Ardent Leisure had since overhauled safety at the theme park where the Thunder River Rapids ride has permanently closed. [15] However, the reopening to the public was subject to discussions with Queensland police as the ride was being treated as a crime scene. This article is about the river rapids at 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. 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. He said Ardent Leisure "may have committed an offence under workplace laws". 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. 10:26pm Oct 26, 2016. Four people were killed while riding the Thunder River Rapids at Dreamworld in 2016. Kay Dibben Court reporter 2 min read 10:26pm Oct 26, 2016. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. WebA Dreamworld worker who pulled bodies from the water during the Thunder River Rapids disaster is suing the theme parks owners. 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. I remember riding it a month before the news came out, still can't believe it happened. 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. He lashed out at Ardent Leisure, the owner of Dreamworld, saying the "money-driven cowboys" only cared about getting visitors back to the theme park, which has been an Australian holiday favourite over the past three decades. We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic incident; our hearts and thoughts go out to the families involved and their loved ones. WebA Dreamworld worker who pulled bodies from the water during the Thunder River Rapids disaster is suing the theme parks owners. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. "On that day, personally I've never come across anything that would have made my life, for want of a better word, easy. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. Naumann had earlier said he believed some maintenance operations may have been deferred for budgetary reasons. The inquest into the deaths of four people on the Thunder River Rapids ride at Dreamworld has been shown CCTV of the tragedy. Ardent Leisure's share price plunged 17 per cent after the report was handed down. "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. Shine Lawyers is representing safety officers Shane Green, John Clark and Rebecca Ramsey and engineer Paul Burke who have all left Dreamworld and are all involved in ongoing counselling. At the time of closure, Thunder River Rapids Ride was one of Dreamworlds nine family rides alongside Dreamworld Express, Escape from Madagascar, Gingys Glider, MAD Jungle Jam, Rocky Hollow Log Ride, Shockwave, Skadoosh Bumper Cars, Vintage Car Adventure. The raft is dispatched and the riders travel back past the rides queue and into a cave. Then chief executive Deborah Thomas bristled at a press conference when asked whether she deserved her annual bonus. 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 Most Interesting Articles, Mysteries and Discoveries. Before departing the ride, guests were brought back up to the level of the station by a conveyor belt. So has former Wallaby and fomer Bank of Queensland chairman Roger Davis, who chaired the company's safety committee at the time. On October 25, 2016, four people, Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozbeh Araghi, and Cindy Low died while on the Thunder River Rapids Ride (via BBC). 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. (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. Approximately one minute later, another raft carrying six passengers moved down the conveyor and collided with the first stranded raft. In October 2017, police recommended that no criminal charges be laid against any person in relation to the deaths. Three of the four workers will give evidence at the inquest into the October 2016 incident. To put it simply, Dreamworld's inadequacy and poor maintenance, likely resulted in the deaths of four people. 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. The grieving families of the victims also delivered statements to the court. SYDNEY - Four people were killed Tuesday after a river rapids ride malfunctioned at a popular theme park on Australias east coast, officials said. Riders would board one of several six-person circular rafts. This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021. "I find that shoddy record-keeping was a contributing factor to this accident," he said. Tammy Law. Both rafts pivoted upwards driven by movement of the conveyor before the first raft fell back to a level position resting on support rails. The investigation is still ongoing. #14. Dreamworld visitor Lisa Walker said the Thunder River Rapids ride had broken down earlier in the day. To put it simply, Dreamworld's inadequacy and poor maintenance, likely resulted in the deaths of four people. draining the river, over 7 paramedic crews responded to the 000 call along with firefighters and police. A CT scan and toxicological testing was also conducted.7 26. [11][12] [31] Subsequently, in September 2020, they were fined $3.6m (US$2.8m) for the breach of the Work Health and Safety Act. Thunder River Rapids Dreamworld . ", For more incredible stories from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here. Buss was subsequently fired following an internal investigation by the Gold Coast theme park. [21][22] However, it was later reopened on 26 October after a review and safety check was completed. Dreamworld tragedy: Investigators piecing together how fatal accident unfolded. The matter was first heard on July 29 in Southport Magistrates Court. Park operators stopped the ride and started draining the river, over 7 paramedic crews responded to the 000 call along with firefighters and police. Dreamworld visitor Lisa Walker said the Thunder River Rapids ride had broken down earlier in the day. [29], On 21 July 2020, it was announced that three charges had been laid against Ardent Leisure, Dreamworld's parent company. When it occurred in late 2016, Ardent Leisure became a text-book example of how not to deal with a crisis. Thunder River Rapids had already broken down twice. He said he realised the gravity of the situation the moment he arrived on the scene. After four riders were killed on it in late October 2016, the ride was closed. It was later found that a water level sensor that could have prevented the accident would have cost less than $3,000. Two words showed something was wrong with the system, After centuries of Murdaugh rule in the Deep South, the family's power ends with a life sentence for murder, Flooding in southern Malaysia forces 40,000 people to flee homes, With Prince Andrew's sweetheart mansion rental ending, King Charles offers compromise that shocks his son, Labor's pledge for mega koala park in south-west Sydney welcomed by conservation groups. [34] Ardent Leisure reportedly paid out more than $5 million in compensation to the victims family as well as to emergency responders and witnesses. The bodies of four people who died at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast have been released to families for burial, Queensland police confirm. "Nobody should ever have to see what they were confronted with when they entered that trench," Ms Ibraheem said. Four people were crushed to death on a water ride at the Dreamworld theme park in 2016. Ardent Leisure CEO John Osborne (left) and Chairman Gary Weiss (right) leave Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday after hearing the coroner's scathing report. 25 October 2016, 3:22 pm. The water pump on the Thunder River Rapids ride would fail for a third time that day, but this time with fatal consequences. The three safety officers were part of Dreamworld's medical team and were called as soon as the ride flipped, crushing the four victims between the wooden conveyor belt and the raft. 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. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. [35] A memorial garden for the victims was built near the site of the Thunder River Rapids Ride.[36]. The investigation is still ongoing. 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 Truth About The Deadly Dreamworld River Rapids Disaster. A Dreamworld promotion for the ride describes people speeding up to 45km/h through turbulent rapids. Advertisement. According to a Queensland Coroner's report handed down in Brisbane, on Monday, they died from severe internal and external injuries. It was an extraordinary event," he said. They were killed when two rafts collided, flipping them onto a mechanical conveyer belt. 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. Thunder River Rapids had already broken down twice. They so desperately wanted to do more, but the victims were gone.". "Steps were not that complex or burdensome and only mildly inconvenient and really were inexpensive," Magistrate Pamela Dowse said. 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 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. "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. Thunder River Rapids Dreamworld . The biggest thrill was you might get a bit wet. It had been in operation since 1986. A group of adults were crushed to death as their lazy river raft flipped on its side after smashing into another. [10] This is regarded as the worst accident at an Australian theme park since the 1979 Sydney Ghost Train fire at Luna Park Sydney. Four people were crushed to death on a water ride at the Dreamworld theme park in 2016. The post-mortem examination revealed the presence of severe chest and abdominal injuries. Kim Dorsett who lost her son and daughter in the tragedy says she is haunted by the fact she wasn't there to help her daughter in her time of need. 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. The raft pictured still upright from the disaster. TrendRadars. Riders board one of several six-person circular rafts and can be as young as two years-old. This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021. 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 Most Interesting Articles, Mysteries and Discoveries. "In hindsight, yes," Naumann replied, after a long pause. draining the river, over 7 paramedic crews responded to the 000 call along with firefighters and police. [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. She now has the 'world's biggest lips' after spending 8,000 on fillers, MILF Manor mums share their dating red flags - from 'cheapskates' to tattoos, The cast of MILF Manor have left fans divided after making a video about the "red flags" they watch out for in the younger men they date in a social media video for TLC, Ripped Jake Gyllenhaal steals the show at UFC 285 weigh-in filming 'Road House' scene, Acting sensation Jake Gyllenhaal has transformed himself from a Hollywood heart throb into a chiselled UFC maniac and his new gains were on full display at UFC 285, WW3 fears on the rise as huge Iranian warships spotted off Brazilian beach, The two Iranian warships were granted permission by the Brazilian Government to dock in Rio de Janeiro yesterday, but they have only been authorised to stay until tomorrow, World Cup's sexiest fan drops fans' jaws in skimpy black playsuit on night out in Paris, Ivana Knoll became a firm favourite during her time in Qatar for the World Cup, but the former Miss Croatia is still working her magic on her famous Instagram page. 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. But Roddenberry's dreamworld helped show that advanced technology and space travel were not only possible but normal. Four people were crushed to death on a water ride at the Dreamworld theme park in 2016. This is regarded as the worst accident at an Australian theme park since the 1979 Sydney Ghost Train fire at Luna Park Sydney. The fatal incident occurred after a water pump failed, dropping water levels and leaving a raft stranded on a conveyor belt. 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 investigation is still ongoing. 25 October 2016, 3:22 pm. died almost instantly after the Thunder River Rapids Ride rafts collided, an inquiry heard in 2018. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. An entire cycle on the Thunder River Rapids Ride lasted approximately 4 minutes. Record keeping by Ardent Leisure was described as "dire", "sparse" and "haphazard". The Most Interesting Articles, Mysteries and Discoveries. Thunder River Rapids Dreamworld . [4] The Thunder River Rapids Ride was among the most popular rides at Dreamworld until its closure.[5]. [14], Dreamworld announced that the park would reopen on 28 October for a special memorial service for the victims. "Dreamworld's Thunder River Rapids Ride to be demolished after theme park deaths", "Dreamworld's Thunder River Rapids ride that killed four people to be demolished", "Dreamworld's rapids ride different from others around the world", "Thunder River Rapids POV - Dreamworld, Australia", "Dreamworld owner fined $3.6m over deaths of four people on Thunder River Rapids ride", "Dreamworld: Four people killed on Thunder River Rapids ride at Gold Coast theme park", "Dreamworld tragedy: 'miracle escape' for two children on fatal theme park ride", "Inquest into the deaths of Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Cindy Low & Roozbeh Araghi at Dreamworld, October 2016", "The horrific images Dreamworld first responders saw on that disastrous Thunder River Rapids ride", "Gold Coast's BIGGEST Theme Park | Dreamworld", "Dreamworld to reopen on Friday for memorial service after ride tragedy", "Dreamworld accident: Qld Police to meet with theme park over reopening", "Dreamworld's grim reopening cancelled at last minute", "Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) | Twitter", "Australian theme parks to undergo 'safety blitz', "US theme park ride shuts down over Dreamworld tragedy", "US theme park temporarily shuts rapids ride", "Busch Gardens reopens Congo River Rapids ride", "Busch Gardens closes 'Congo River Rapids' ride after deadly accident on similar ride in Australia", "The one thing you won't see at Dreamworld now it's open", "Australia's Dreamworld theme park reopens after fatal accident but witnesses low attendance", "Dreamworld tragedy: Police recommend Coronial hearing ahead of first anniversary of Thunder River Rapids incident", "Dreamworld inquest findings: coroner details 'dangerous' safety practices after examining four deaths on ride", "Dreamworld Thunder River Rapids accident inquest findings handed down by coroner", "Dreamworld parent company Ardent Leisure faces three charges over deadly ride accident", "Ardent Leisure pleads guilty in Australian court over Dreamworld fatal accident", "Dreamworld to pay $2.1m to family of Thunder River Rapids victim", "Thunder River Rapids Ride: Dreamworld ride torn down almost 18 months after four lives were lost at Gold Coast theme park", "It's Mack Time - Dreamworld's Steel Taipan roller coaster goes vertical", "Cost of Dreamworld tragedy could reach $20 million", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thunder_River_Rapids_Ride&oldid=1131479427, Water rides manufactured by Dreamworld (Australia), All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Improper maintenance and lack of staff training, This page was last edited on 4 January 2023, at 10:00. She stumbled when asked whether she had contacted victim's families, saying she "didn't know how to get in touch with them". "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. Tweet. But he said he had never been told explicitly he could not attend to safety issues due to monetary factors. A raft of six guests became stranded as a result of the lack of water, leaving it stuck on support rails between the end of the raft conveyor belt and the unloading area. Welcome to /r/submechanophobia; the fear of partially or fully submerged man-made objects, Press J to jump to the feed. A Sydney-based company was commissioned to supply the vessels in 1983. The inquest also heard an emergency stop button on the main control panel of the ride was never checked by a maintenance supervisor. 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 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. 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. 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. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Upon exiting the cave, riders experienced the main rapids section of the 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. Mar 29, 2009. It was later found that a water level sensor that could have prevented the accident would have cost less than $3,000. I've never fully understood what the actual cause of death was. [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. Mar 29, 2009. Although the ride was temporarily closed after the incident on 25 October 2016, it was later deemed to be closed indefinitely. They also appointed a former Qantas safety executive Geoff Sartori, as safety adviser to the Ardent Leisure board. 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. Kay Dibben Court reporter 2 min read In their own words, they accepted full responsibility and the consequences of their decisions. A pair of children miraculously managed to survive the fatal incident at Dreamworld Australia, which was caused by the Thunder River Rapids ride malfunctioning. 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 direct cause of the disaster was a water pump malfunction that caused low water levels (via The Guardian). Facebook. 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. Approximately one minute later, another raft carrying six passengers moved down the conveyor and collided with the first stranded raft. 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.