Near the finish, the raft rides up a conveyor belt before slowly descending back into the trench full of water. The “Thunder River Rapids” is described on the park website as a “moderate thrill”, involving travelling down turbulent rapids at up to 45 kilometres an hour. [27] On the day before the scheduled trial, on 28 July 2020, Ardent Leisure pleaded guilty in the action. But on this day in 2016, an empty raft got stuck, causing the raft coming behind to flip on its side. Upon exiting the cave, riders experienced the main rapids section of the ride. “Dreamworld is … Ms Low's mother-in-law, Dianne Bond, told the New Zealand Herald: "We lost the most wonderful daughter-in-law - she was far too young. In October 2017, … Read about our approach to external linking. [17][18] However, it was later reopened on 26 October after a review and safety check was completed. Two children were also on board but survived. Witnesses have been quoted as saying a raft overturned. The Thunder River Rapids Ride was supposed to provide whitewater thrills from the safety of a six-person raft. The Dreamworld disaster is considered the second-worst theme park tragedy in Australia. It is described as a “moderate thrill” attraction for anyone aged two or older. © 2021 BBC. The new roller coaster, Steel Taipan, is currently under construction and is expected to open in late 2021. Riders would board one of several six-person circular rafts. The Thunder River Rapids ride has been a cornerstone of Dreamworld’s attraction over its 30-plus-year history. Do I send my child back to school? Gold Rush Country (now known as the Town of Gold Rush) opened on 11 December 1986. For the river rapids at three Six Flags amusement parks, see. The four victims - all adults - died almost instantly after the Thunder River Rapids Ride rafts collided, an inquiry heard in 2018. The park reopened to the public on 10 December 2016, without major thrill rides operating, however DreamWorks Experience, ABC Kids World, Wiggles World, Dreamworld Coroboree and WhiteWater World … Before departing the ride, guests were brought back up to the level of the station by a conveyor belt. 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. [12] The 28 October reopening was cancelled on 27 October. [citation needed]. Dreamworld announces it will demolish the water ride at the centre of October's deadly accident. The parent company of Dreamworld, Ardent Leisure, has a month to pay a $3.6m fine over the deaths of four people on the Thunder River Rapids ride in 2016. [25], Mr McDougall told a Brisbane court Dreamworld had a reputation as a "modern, world-class theme park" yet its safety and maintenance systems were "rudimentary at best". This was the Thunder River Rapids Ride that was located in the Gold Rush section of Dreamworld on the Gold Coast of Australia. Although resembling an Intamin River rapids ride, Thunder River Rapids was neither built nor supplied by Intamin. The footage was played in a closed court on the ninth day of an inquest into the Thunder River Rapids Ride tragedy on Thursday on the Gold Coast. Tragedy hit when four people were killed following a collision between two rafts. The Thunder River Rapids Ride is currently Australia’s only river rapids ride and opened in December 1986. ", Tiger Woods 'awake and responsive' after surgery. Both rafts pivoted upwards driven by movement of the conveyor before the first raft fell back to a level position resting on support rails. Queensland coroner says ‘shoddy record keeping’ contributed to accident on Thunder River Rapids ride in October 2016 Dreamworld inquest findings: coroner details ‘dangerous’ safety practices. Last year a 13-year-old Chinese girl died after she was flung from a fast-spinning ride at an amusement park in southwest China, while four people were killed on the ‘Thunder River Rapids’ ride at an Australian theme park in 2016. The raft then went under the Eureka Mountain Mine Ride's station and headed back towards its own station. [19][20], 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. Riders entered a long indoor queue with several switchbacks. Detectives have been on site for much of the past two weeks, conducting exhaustive investigations into what caused the Thunder River Rapids Ride to malfunction on October 25. Queensland Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said: "They are the maximum charges in the act, and the prosecutor is independent and we respect his decision and await the outcome from the courts.". Other rides have shut since. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunder_River_Rapids_Ride_incident They will not be applied retroactively. We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic incident; our hearts and thoughts go out to the families involved and their loved ones. On 9 November 2016, Ardent Leisures' CEO announced that the ride would not reopen, and was to be demolished. 'My billion pound company has no HR department'. Although the ride was temporarily closed after the incident on 25 October 2016, it was later deemed to be closed indefinitely. Two children were also thrown from the raft but survived. On Tuesday morning, the inquest into their deaths examined what happened in the 90 seconds after the Thunder River Rapids Ride’s southern pump failed at 2.03pm on October 25, 2016. The Thunder River Rapids Ride. The area featured the Eureka Mountain Mine Ride and the Thunder River Rapids Ride. Park operators stopped the ride and started draining the river, over 7 paramedic crews responded to the 000 call along with firefighters and police. This article is about the river rapids at Dreamworld. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. The collision caused one of the rafts to flip over, throwing two victims into the water and trapping two others. Bringing an Australian wetland back to life. [21] The ride has since been dismantled and the location fenced off. Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett and his partner Roozi … The collision took place at the end of the Thunder River Rapids ride, an attraction that simulated the experience of white-water rafting. The Queensland family is considering legal action against DreamWorld - where four people died on the Thunder River Rapids ride in October 2016. In October 2017, police recommended that no criminal charges be laid against any person in relation to the deaths. A Sydney-based company was commissioned to supply the vessels in 1983. In July 2020 Dreamworlds' parent company, Ardent Leisure, stated that three charges related to the deaths had been laid against them under the 'Work, Health and Safety Act'. The collision took place at the end of the Thunder River Rapids ride, an attraction that simulated the experience of white-water rafting. 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. [8] 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. [28] Subsequently, in September 2020, they were fined $3.6m (US$2.8m)for the breach of the Work Health and Safety Act.[29]. In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange, Ardent Leisure again expressed its "deepest sympathies" to the victims' loved ones. [13], 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. Prosecutor Aaron Guilfoyle said the three charges alleged that Dreamworld failed in its duty of care. Queensland introduced industrial manslaughter laws following the accident and other unrelated workplace deaths. Park owner Ardent Leisure shares fell 7.8 per cent after the accident. The Gold Coast Bulletin has reported (warning: graphic) ... she had been on the Thunder River Rapids ride only 10 or 15 minutes before the accident. Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozbeh Araghi and Cindy Low died almost instantly when their raft collided with another and overturned, crushing them. "There has been considerable change at Dreamworld over the last few years as was acknowledged by the coroner in his report," the company said. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families. Dreamworld released a statement on their website and Facebook page stating: Dreamworld is currently closed until further notice due to a tragic incident at the park. The main rapids section of the Thunder River Rapids Ride. [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. Coroner James McDougall found a "systemic failure by Dreamworld in relation to all aspects of safety", ruling the accident had been "only a matter of time". [9] 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. "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: Four people killed on Thunder River Rapids ride at Gold Coast theme park", "Inquest into the deaths of Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Cindy Low & Roozbeh Araghi at Dreamworld, October 2016", "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", "Thunder River Rapids Ride: Dreamworld ride torn down almost 18 months after four lives were lost at Gold Coast theme park", "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 owner fined $3.6m over deaths of four people on Thunder River Rapids ride", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thunder_River_Rapids_Ride&oldid=1006730943#2016_incident_and_closure, All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 February 2021, at 13:47. On 9 November 2016 it was shut permanently and later demolished, out of respect for the families involved. [22][23], In a report to the Queensland Coroner in October 2017, Police recommended that no criminal charges be laid against any person. After four riders were killed on it in late October 2016, the ride was closed. In February 2020 the Queensland Coroner, James McDougall, released his report detailing "irresponsible", "dangerous" and "inadequate" safety practices at Dreamworld that contributed to the four deaths. On 9 November 2016, Ardent Leisures' CEO announced that the ride would not reopen, and was to be demolished. He recommended the Queensland Office of Industrial Relations consider a prosecution. The queue then bridged across part of the ride's water storage area before reaching the circular station. [16], The Busch Gardens Tampa theme park shut its Congo River Rapids ride in response to the incident, until the cause was determined. Among them were Mr Araghi's brother, Simon, who described his sibling as an intelligent and "amazing kid". [26], ... he would refer Dreamworld's parent company, Ardent Leisure, to the Queensland Office of Industrial Relations. 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. He said Ardent Leisure "may have committed an offence under workplace laws". The charges were filed by the Work Health and Safety prosecutor, under the Work Health and Safety Act, at the Brisbane Magistrates Court. The ride had endured frequent breakdowns in the days leading up to the accident, and had several design and construction issues which contributed. The park closed for six weeks after the accident, and the Thunder River Rapids ride was demolished. The design and construction of Dreamworld's Thunder River Rapids ride posed a "significant risk" to patrons' safety, according to a coroner who examined the deaths of four people on the ride in 2016. They would be the only charges brought, he added. THE ACCIDENT “The empty tube was totally stuck (on the conveyor belt), like if you had a boat on a sandbar,” Ben said. Ardent Leisure admitted breaching the Work Health and Safety Act and exposing individuals to a risk of serious injury or death. Video, The roller-skating star who beat disability stigma, China court orders man to pay wife for housework, Biden and Trudeau seek reset after Trump era bumps, Apple buys a company every three to four weeks, Canadian butter 'changes' churn up concerns, Actor Depardieu under investigation for rape, Last Franco statue on Spanish soil removed, Queensland introduced industrial manslaughter laws. BBC Future: Is the Western way of raising kids weird? A year ago today, a raft on the Thunder River Rapids flipped when it collided with another raft near a large conveyor belt at the end of the water ride. Mr McDougall found “shoddy record keeping was a significant contributing factor” to the tragedy and “contributed to the masking of the real risk” of the Thunder River Rapids ride. The ride is said to use circular rafts with six attached seats. Police said they responded to reports of several people injured on a river rapids ride. Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett and his partner Roozi Araghi died in October 2016 when a water pump on the Thunder River Rapids malfunctioned at the theme park. [11] However, the reopening to the public was subject to discussions with Queensland police as the ride was being treated as a crime scene. Fashion designer Alexander Wang accused of assault1, China court orders man to pay wife for housework3, Biden and Trudeau seek reset after Trump era bumps4, Apple buys a company every three to four weeks5, 'My billion pound company has no HR department'6, Canadian butter 'changes' churn up concerns7, Actor Depardieu under investigation for rape8, Last Franco statue on Spanish soil removed9, Malaysia deports Myanmar nationals despite court order10. The ride, which simulates river rapids, uses tyre-shaped floating rafts that seat six and can reach speeds of 28mph. Dreamworld Thunder River Rapids Ride crash kills four after car flips over on conveyor belt in Australia that nearly killed man six months ago . Dreamworld’s parent company has been fined $3.6 million after pleading guilty to safety charges over the Thunder River Rapids ride tragedy that killed four people. What happens to your body in extreme heat? Tiger Woods is "awake and responsive" following surgery on serious leg injuries suffered in a car crash in Los Angeles on Tuesday. [26], On 21 July 2020, it was announced that three charges had been laid against Ardent Leisure, Dreamworlds' parent company. VideoBringing an Australian wetland back to life, The Simpsons creator on equality, memes and monorails, The roller-skating star who beat disability stigma. Last year, police recommended that no Dreamworld employees should face criminal charges. The Thunder River Rapids Ride on which the tragedy occurred. [7], On 25 October 2016, a malfunction of the Thunder River Rapids Ride resulted in the deaths of four people. No relatives took the stand at the coroner's inquiry, but many tributes were paid to the victims after the accident. A coroner's inquiry later found there were "unfathomable" errors with safety at the park on Queensland's Gold Coast. 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. Authorities have filed three charges against parent company Ardent Leisure. READ MORE: Horrific footage shows moment 13yo violently flung from Chinese amusement park ride (GRAPHIC VIDEO) On August 23, 2019, a new roller coaster was announced to be built on the site of the river rapids ride and part of the Eureka Mountain Mine Ride site. In the aftermath of the Thunder River Rapids incident, Dreamworld spent just over a month closed to the public to enable audits of all rides, shows and infrastructure. "[15], On 29 October, the Queensland Government announced a 'blitz' of safety inspections, and an audit of state workplace health and safety laws. This section ran alongside a large water catchment which contained the water storage for the Thunder River Rapids Ride. A water pump had stopped working just before the accident, the hearing heard. [24], The Queensland Coroner, James McDougall, released a report on 24 February 2020 detailing "irresponsible", "dangerous" and "inadequate" safety practices at theme park that contributed to the four deaths, while recommending the Queensland office of industrial relations consider a prosecution. [3] After four riders were killed on it in late October 2016, the ride was closed. Malaysia deports Myanmar nationals despite court order, Fashion designer Alexander Wang accused of assault, The world's largest cricket stadium wows players, Bringing an Australian wetland back to life. The malfunction happened about 15 seconds after a pump stopped working and caused water levels to drop, the coroner was told in 2018. The Thunder River Rapids was a water ride that was considered a favourite at the park. VideoThe roller-skating star who beat disability stigma. [6] The raft was dispatched and the riders travelled back past the ride's queue and into a cave. The ride is restricted, and users must be at least 120cm and up to a maximum weight of 120kg.

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