SAD: Four dead in accident at Australian theme park(Pics)

scene of the incident

Physinews: Four people have died in an accident on a
ride at an Australian theme park.
A spokesperson for Dreamworld confirmed
two men and two women died in the
incident on the Thunder River Rapids ride.


A "malfunction" caused two of the victims to
be "ejected" and two others to be "caught
inside" the ride, Queensland Ambulance
spokesperson Gavin Fuller said.

The Gold Coast theme park has been closed.

Aerial footage showed emergency workers
beside one of the ride's six-seat carriages on
the conveyor belt close to where people get
on and off the ride.

Nine News reporter, Carrie-Anne Greenbank,
told Sky News: "It is certainly chaos down
here at the moment.

"Six people were on the raft when it flipped
on a conveyor belt. Four of them have been
trapped underneath and two have managed
to jump free."

Lia Capes said she was just about to go on
the ride when she saw people crying and
running out.

"We saw [a] little girl and we believe it was
her mum because it was just her and her
little sister that was an infant," Ms Capes told
ABC News.

"I was speaking to one of the guys and he
said it was the raft or the boat thing in front
of him, the whole thing flipped and everyone
was screaming."

Ms Capes said Dreamworld staff quickly
evacuated the area.

"The little girl that was crying, they asked us
to take her because we distracted her, she
was balling her eyes out," she said.

"[Then] people that worked here took her and
her little sister away."

The Dreamworld website describes the
Thunder River Rapids as a "white water
rafting" ride which travels at up to 45kph.
Visitors as young as two years old are
allowed on the ride.

Dreamworld Chief Executive Craig Davidson
said: "We are deeply shocked and saddened
by this and our hearts and thoughts go to
the families involved and their loved ones."

In a statement, the theme park said it was
"working as quickly as possible to establish
the facts around the incident".

It added: "Dreamworld's focus 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."

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said it was "a
truly sad day for all".

He added: "Our thoughts are with the families
of those affected - and the emergency staff in
attendance.

"I urge everyone to show the respect needed
as the relevant authorities undertake
investigations in to what has occurred."