Dreamworld accident: Four people killed on Thunder Sea Rapids rail at Australian theme park reportedly ‘from the same family’
F our people were killed in a “horrific” accident at one of Australia’s thickest theme parks on Tuesday, after a raft flipped on a white-water rapids rail, with witnesses describing how “everyone was screaming”.
The accident at the Dreamworld theme park at around Two.20pm local time sent two people flying from the carriage and left two trapped inwards.
Typically regarded as a family friendly – or “moderate thrill” – attraction, the rapids rail lasts about four minutes and sends people down a foamy water track at speeds of up to twenty eight miles an hour.
S ome witnesses said there had been a problem with the rail earlier in the day and engineers had been called in for repairs.
“They drained all the water out and then had to refill it back up, and then we were permitted to go,” a witness told Channel Nine. “We were stuck there for about thirty to forty minutes at least.”
Authorities would not comment on the cause of the malfunction but dispatched forensics and workplace safety experts to investigate.
‘We are deeply shocked and saddened,’ – @Dreamworld_AU CEO on the four deaths at the theme park today. #9News pic.twitter.com/7sR62FdjXs
D reamworld, which is on the Gold Coast in the state of Queensland, attracts almost two million visitors each year from Australia and around the world.
Police said the victims were two women, aged thirty two and 42, and two guys, aged thirty five and 38. The names and nationalities have not been exposed but local media reported the four were related and their children may have been at the park.
L ocal TV network 9News reported that the victims were possibly from the same family and may have been visiting from interstate. NZ Herald reported that one of the dead women was a Fresh Zealander who lived in Australia with her spouse and two children.
Following the accident, Leah Capes, a witness, told The Gold Coast Bulletin: “The kids and people in there were screaming. It all happened so quickly. There were heaps of people sobbing, it all happened so swift.”
A nother witness said: “My sister and niece were on the rail, they are so traumatised, there is a woman dangling by her foot, crushed from the rail.”
Earlier this year, Dreamworld was closed after a person almost drowned on a separate rail. The accident involved a conveyor belt system similar to that used in the rapids rail, according to Queensland’s Courier Mail newspaper.
I n a description of the 20-year-old rapids rail, the park’s website states: “Travel down a foamy water track past the Gold Rush Country, speeding up to forty five km/h through the turbulent rapids.”
Each carriage on the rail can hold up to six people; passengers must be at least one hundred twenty centimetres tall or accompanied by an adult.
D reamworld said it was investigating the cause of the “tragic” accident. The park, which has operated since 1981, has closed until further notice.
“Dreamworld is working as quickly as possible to establish the facts around the incident and is working closely with emergency authorities and police to do this,” Dreamworld said in a statement.
“Dreamworld’s concentrate and priority is with the families of those involved in this tragedy and will be providing an update to the public as soon as information becomes available.”
A nnastacia Palaszczuk, Queensland’s state premier, said the accident scene was “horrific”.
“Everyone is in deep shock that this has actually happened at one of our most popular theme parks,” she said.
“This is a rail that thousands and thousands of families have been on. It should have been a wonderful family day out.”
M alcolm Turnbull, Australia’s prime minister, suggested condolences to the families of the victims, adding: “Theme parks are a place for family joy and happiness, not tragedy.”
US Olympics 1500m gold medallist Matthew Centrowitz was at the park at the time and tweeted that the accident happened fifteen minutes after he was on the rail.
Dude! Just got off a rail fifteen mins ago that has one person gravely injured & two others trapped 😧😓 #Dreamworld
Dreamworld accident: Four people killed on Thunder Sea Rapids rail at Australian theme park reportedly – from the same family
Dreamworld accident: Four people killed on Thunder Sea Rapids rail at Australian theme park reportedly ‘from the same family’
F our people were killed in a “horrific” accident at one of Australia’s fattest theme parks on Tuesday, after a raft flipped on a white-water rapids rail, with witnesses describing how “everyone was screaming”.
The accident at the Dreamworld theme park at around Two.20pm local time sent two people flying from the carriage and left two trapped inwards.
Typically regarded as a family friendly – or “moderate thrill” – attraction, the rapids rail lasts about four minutes and sends people down a foamy water track at speeds of up to twenty eight miles an hour.
S ome witnesses said there had been a problem with the rail earlier in the day and engineers had been called in for repairs.
“They drained all the water out and then had to refill it back up, and then we were permitted to go,” a witness told Channel Nine. “We were stuck there for about thirty to forty minutes at least.”
Authorities would not comment on the cause of the malfunction but dispatched forensics and workplace safety experts to investigate.
‘We are deeply shocked and saddened,’ – @Dreamworld_AU CEO on the four deaths at the theme park today. #9News pic.twitter.com/7sR62FdjXs
D reamworld, which is on the Gold Coast in the state of Queensland, attracts almost two million visitors each year from Australia and around the world.
Police said the victims were two women, aged thirty two and 42, and two boys, aged thirty five and 38. The names and nationalities have not been exposed but local media reported the four were related and their children may have been at the park.
L ocal TV network 9News reported that the victims were possibly from the same family and may have been visiting from interstate. NZ Herald reported that one of the dead women was a Fresh Zealander who lived in Australia with her hubby and two children.
Following the accident, Leah Capes, a witness, told The Gold Coast Bulletin: “The kids and people in there were screaming. It all happened so quickly. There were heaps of people howling, it all happened so quick.”
A nother witness said: “My sister and niece were on the rail, they are so traumatised, there is a woman stringing up by her foot, crushed from the rail.”
Earlier this year, Dreamworld was closed after a person almost drowned on a separate rail. The accident involved a conveyor belt system similar to that used in the rapids rail, according to Queensland’s Courier Mail newspaper.
I n a description of the 20-year-old rapids rail, the park’s website states: “Travel down a foamy water track past the Gold Rush Country, speeding up to forty five km/h through the turbulent rapids.”
Each carriage on the rail can hold up to six people; passengers must be at least one hundred twenty centimetres tall or accompanied by an adult.
D reamworld said it was investigating the cause of the “tragic” accident. The park, which has operated since 1981, has closed until further notice.
“Dreamworld is working as quickly as possible to establish the facts around the incident and is working closely with emergency authorities and police to do this,” Dreamworld said in a statement.
“Dreamworld’s concentrate and priority is with the families of those involved in this tragedy and will be providing an update to the public as soon as information becomes available.”
A nnastacia Palaszczuk, Queensland’s state premier, said the accident scene was “horrific”.
“Everyone is in deep shock that this has actually happened at one of our most popular theme parks,” she said.
“This is a rail that thousands and thousands of families have been on. It should have been a wonderful family day out.”
M alcolm Turnbull, Australia’s prime minister, suggested condolences to the families of the victims, adding: “Theme parks are a place for family joy and happiness, not tragedy.”
US Olympics 1500m gold medallist Matthew Centrowitz was at the park at the time and tweeted that the accident happened fifteen minutes after he was on the rail.
Dude! Just got off a rail fifteen mins ago that has one person earnestly injured & two others trapped 😧😓 #Dreamworld
Dreamworld accident: Four people killed on Thunder Sea Rapids rail at Australian theme park reportedly – from the same family
Dreamworld accident: Four people killed on Thunder Sea Rapids rail at Australian theme park reportedly ‘from the same family’
F our people were killed in a “horrific” accident at one of Australia’s largest theme parks on Tuesday, after a raft flipped on a white-water rapids rail, with witnesses describing how “everyone was screaming”.
The accident at the Dreamworld theme park at around Two.20pm local time sent two people flying from the carriage and left two trapped inwards.
Typically regarded as a family friendly – or “moderate thrill” – attraction, the rapids rail lasts about four minutes and sends people down a foamy water track at speeds of up to twenty eight miles an hour.
S ome witnesses said there had been a problem with the rail earlier in the day and engineers had been called in for repairs.
“They drained all the water out and then had to refill it back up, and then we were permitted to go,” a witness told Channel Nine. “We were stuck there for about thirty to forty minutes at least.”
Authorities would not comment on the cause of the malfunction but dispatched forensics and workplace safety experts to investigate.
‘We are deeply shocked and saddened,’ – @Dreamworld_AU CEO on the four deaths at the theme park today. #9News pic.twitter.com/7sR62FdjXs
D reamworld, which is on the Gold Coast in the state of Queensland, attracts almost two million visitors each year from Australia and around the world.
Police said the victims were two women, aged thirty two and 42, and two dudes, aged thirty five and 38. The names and nationalities have not been exposed but local media reported the four were related and their children may have been at the park.
L ocal TV network 9News reported that the victims were possibly from the same family and may have been visiting from interstate. NZ Herald reported that one of the dead women was a Fresh Zealander who lived in Australia with her spouse and two children.
Following the accident, Leah Capes, a witness, told The Gold Coast Bulletin: “The kids and people in there were screaming. It all happened so quickly. There were heaps of people weeping, it all happened so quick.”
A nother witness said: “My sister and niece were on the rail, they are so traumatised, there is a woman stringing up by her foot, crushed from the rail.”
Earlier this year, Dreamworld was closed after a person almost drowned on a separate rail. The accident involved a conveyor belt system similar to that used in the rapids rail, according to Queensland’s Courier Mail newspaper.
I n a description of the 20-year-old rapids rail, the park’s website states: “Travel down a foamy water track past the Gold Rush Country, speeding up to forty five km/h through the turbulent rapids.”
Each carriage on the rail can hold up to six people; passengers must be at least one hundred twenty centimetres tall or accompanied by an adult.
D reamworld said it was investigating the cause of the “tragic” accident. The park, which has operated since 1981, has closed until further notice.
“Dreamworld is working as quickly as possible to establish the facts around the incident and is working closely with emergency authorities and police to do this,” Dreamworld said in a statement.
“Dreamworld’s concentrate and priority is with the families of those involved in this tragedy and will be providing an update to the public as soon as information becomes available.”
A nnastacia Palaszczuk, Queensland’s state premier, said the accident scene was “horrific”.
“Everyone is in deep shock that this has actually happened at one of our most popular theme parks,” she said.
“This is a rail that thousands and thousands of families have been on. It should have been a wonderful family day out.”
M alcolm Turnbull, Australia’s prime minister, suggested condolences to the families of the victims, adding: “Theme parks are a place for family joy and happiness, not tragedy.”
US Olympics 1500m gold medallist Matthew Centrowitz was at the park at the time and tweeted that the accident happened fifteen minutes after he was on the rail.
Dude! Just got off a rail fifteen mins ago that has one person gravely injured & two others trapped 😧😓 #Dreamworld