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. Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozbeh Araghi, and Cindy Low died in October 2016 when their raft crashed and overturned, crushing them.
Four victims (all adults) died almost instantly after the Thunder River Rapids Ride rafts collided. This was an inquiry heard in 2018. Two children were also on board but survived.
Cause of an Accident:
The accident at Australia’s biggest theme park was caused by a pump that malfunctioned near the end of the ride. Park operator Ardent Leisure admitted in July to breaching safety laws. The company said it accepted responsibility. They also said that they will improve safety standards.
The raft carrying passengers flipped in the collision:
On Monday, a court said the company had failed in its duty of care and should have taken steps to make the ride safer.” They operated the most iconic amusement park in the country, which targeted and attracted families.” The size of the fine reflected the severity of the company’s failure. Ardent had been facing a maximum A$4.5m fine.
Chief executive John Osborne said: “Ardent accepts responsibility for this tragedy, and we fully accept the consequences.” Families of the victims also delivered statements to the sentencing court on Monday, expressing grief and anger over their loss.
Australia theme park admits guilt over ride deaths:
“That Cindy died violently is unacceptable to us,” said Helen Cook. “Knowing her death could have been avoided is unacceptable and infuriating.”
Dreamworld briefly shut down for six weeks after the accident in 2016, during which it demolished the ride. The company has reported operating losses every year since the accident, including more than A$260m in losses in its theme park division. It is also fighting a class action from shareholders who claim the company misled them on the park’s safety measures.