Four die in amusement park accident

[TheFattestSnorlax]

I'm not typically the person to share news articles, but this got my attention. It had me stunned.

Here's a news article about this tragedy: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-25/four-people-dead-ride-at-dreamworld-gold-coast/7963880

Two men and two women have been killed on the Thunder River Rapids ride at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast.

Two of the four victims were thrown off the ride when it malfunctioned and the other two were trapped inside.

Police Inspector Tod Reid said a 42-year-old woman, a 38-year-old man, a 35-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman had lost their lives.

Early investigations suggest water pushed one raft into another and one of the rafts tipped over, throwing the riders out.

"[The ride] had sustained some sort of malfunction causing two people to be ejected ... another two people were caught inside the ride," Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations supervisor Gavin Fuller said.

"Two males and two females, they were assessed by Queensland ambulance personnel and had all sustained injuries that were incompatible with living."

According to the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS), injuries that are incompatible with living are those "where it would be appropriate to withhold the commencement of CPR".

Mr Fuller said the QAS had multiple units at the scene, including critical care paramedics, who arrived at Dreamworld to find park staff trying to render first aid.

"A number of the staff that were here today from Queensland ambulance have been deeply affected by this terrible accident that's occurred today," he said on Tuesday.

Dreamworld chief executive Craig Davidson said the accident happened at 2:20pm (AEST).

"At this stage, the park is closed and Dreamworld is working closely with police and emergency services and authorities to establish the facts around the incident," he said.

Mr Davidson said the company was "deeply shocked and saddened by this and our hearts and our thoughts go to the families involved and to their loved ones".

Dreamworld has advised that the park will be closed until further notice.

...Like, I've been there. I've been on the ride, and seeing this makes my heart stop. I am currently wondering if any of you have any thoughts about this incident. I made this discussion so we can learn from horrible events such as this.

 

[Aliencommander1245]

I don't really have any thoughts on it other than i've been on that ride too, and it's a horrible tragedy.

It's been revealed that the occupants of the ride were a mother, a man and his male partner and another currently unnamed woman as well as two children who survived the accident, which must be horrifying for them

 

[Her]

Yeah, it's been the big story here for the last 24 hours. Absolutely awful. Finding out this morning that there were kids on the ride who saw their parents die in front of them... eurgh.

Each update makes it seem like safety standards being were swept under the rug. Honestly, I would not be surprised at all if Dreamworld doesn't open again, or the situation proves to be so financially damaging that they're forced to close.

 

[Sydian]

Oh god, that's absolutely awful. My thoughts are with the family. You don't go to places like this and expect that to happen...not at all.

I was recently watching a video where a guy was talking about deaths at amusement parks and carnivals, actually. Freaked me the hell out. There are sadly a lot of cases similar to this where people are ejected from seats and the like and it's just...ugh. Really damn scary.