Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
Families speak at Dreamworld hearing

The family members of four people killed on a Dreamworld theme park ride in 2016 have spoken ahead of the coronial inquest findings being handed down.

February 24, 2020

AAP staff writers

The families of those killed in the Dreamworld tragedy have spoken of their grief ahead of the coroner handing down his findings into the inquest.

Coroner James McDougall invited family members of Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett and his partner Roozi Araghi to come forward and speak before handing down his findings on Monday.

Ms Goodchild’s and Mr Dorsett’s mother Kim Dorsett said her greatest regret was not being there for her children on the day they needed her most.

“The easier part was burying them, the harrowing part is living without them,” she said while wiping tears from her face.

The pair’s father, John Goodchild, said his grief has been was exacerbated after learning the Thunder River Rapids ride malfunction could have been identified before the accident happened.

Police have recommended no criminal charges against Dreamworld staff over the fatal accident, but the coroner could still suggest prosecutions or substantial fines for the company and its executives.

More than a hundred people have packed a Brisbane courtroom to hear the long-awaited findings, which probed the deaths at the Gold Coast theme park more than three years ago.

Ms Low, Ms Goodchild, Mr Dorsett and Mr Araghi died in October 2016 when a water pump on the Thunder River Rapids ride malfunctioned at the theme park.

Three-of-the four holidaymakers were flung into a mechanised conveyor when their raft collided with another and partially flipped on October 25, 2016.

A crucial delay in stopping the ride caused the jammed raft to be shaken and a fourth person to fall into the machinery.

Ms Goodchild’s 12-year-old daughter and Ms Low’s 10-year-old son survived the incident.

The wide-ranging inquest, which opened in June, has unveiled a “litany of problems” with some experts declaring the tragedy was an accident waiting to happen.

The malfunction was the third that day, and fifth in a week.

Police uncovered multiple incidents involving the ride in the past with two rafts colliding in 2004, throwing a guest into the trough.

Despite recommendations for a single emergency stop, no single shutdown function was installed.

Queensland introduced new safety regulations for amusement rides including mandatory major inspections of rides by qualified engineers every 10 years and improved training for ride operators.

The state also tightened workplace health and safety prosecution laws.

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