This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-37772351

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Dreamworld: Australia theme park defends safety record Dreamworld: Australia theme park under fire from victims' families
(about 2 hours later)
The owners of Dreamworld on Australia's Gold Coast have defended the theme park's safety record, after four people were killed on one of its rides. The owners of Australia's Dreamworld have been criticised for not directly contacting the families of the four people killed on one of its rides.
"Prior to Tuesday, there has never been a death at the park due to a ride incident," Ardent said in a statement. Ardent Leisure's CEO told a news briefing the company had offered "every assistance we can" to the families.
But the family of two of the victims sent a text to a reporter in the briefing, who said they were "furious" at the claim.
The park will reopen on Friday for a memorial, but its future is unclear.The park will reopen on Friday for a memorial, but its future is unclear.
The two women and two men died when their raft on the Thunder River Rapids ride collided with another raft and flipped over. The two women and two men died when their raft on the Thunder River Rapids ride collided with another and flipped over.
Dreamworld: Who were the victims?
The victims have been named as Kate Goodchild, 32, her brother Luke Dorsett, 35, Mr Dorsett's partner, Roozbeh Araghi, 38, and Cindy Low, a 42-year-old New Zealand citizen who lived in Sydney.The victims have been named as Kate Goodchild, 32, her brother Luke Dorsett, 35, Mr Dorsett's partner, Roozbeh Araghi, 38, and Cindy Low, a 42-year-old New Zealand citizen who lived in Sydney.
A 10-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl, who media say were related to the victims, were also on the raft. They were thrown free and survived. A 10-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl, who media reports say were related to the victims, were also on the raft. They were thrown free and survived.
Dreamworld: Who were the victims?
In the emotionally charged news briefing in Sydney, Ardent chief Deborah Thomas said the company had "finally made contact with the Dorsett family" to offer assistance.
But Ten News reporter Melinda Nucifora told Ms Thomas the Dorsett family were watching on TV and had texted to say they were "furious" at the suggestion.
"They say that they've had no direct contact whatsoever. No one's even reached out to them,"
Ms Thomas clarified her comments to say the company had been in touch through police, but had not spoken directly to the family "because we didn't know how to contact them" and asked for their phone number.
The visibly emotional executive finished the news conference by addressing the family directly, to give her "sincere sympathies for what you must be going through".
"Our hearts and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. And I will be calling you to see what assistance we can offer you."
'Catastrophic event''Catastrophic event'
Ardent said the Thunder River Rapids ride had undergone its annual mechanical and safety inspection on 29 September. Earlier, Ardent had defended the theme park's safety record.
"The safety audit was conducted by a specialist external engineering firm," it said in a statement released to the Australian Stock Exchange. "Prior to Tuesday, there has never been a death at the park due to a ride incident," the company said in a statement.
"Details of this external audit will be provided to the coroner and workplace safety investigators." Ardent said the Thunder River Rapids ride had undergone its annual mechanical and safety inspection on 29 September and that details would be given to the authorities.
The CEO of Ardent Leisure has also expressed "heartfelt condolences" to the families and friends of the people killed on Tuesday.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with them, particularly their children," Deborah Thomas told the company's pre-scheduled annual general meeting in Sydney.
"As the incident is the subject of a coronial investigation, there is very little I can say at the present time, except that we are fully co‐operating and working closely with authorities to establish exactly how this has happened.
"I understand the intense interest in this catastrophic event and appreciate there are many questions to be answered. But I ask for your patience as we work with those authorities to first establish the facts."
Legal commentators have already speculated that Ardent's directors could face serious legal consequences.Legal commentators have already speculated that Ardent's directors could face serious legal consequences.
"Cases like this generally aren't just freak accidents, it's generally a series of events or something has actually gone wrong to result in such a significant catastrophic event," Brisbane-based personal injury lawyer Alison Barrett told the Australian Broadcasting Corp."Cases like this generally aren't just freak accidents, it's generally a series of events or something has actually gone wrong to result in such a significant catastrophic event," Brisbane-based personal injury lawyer Alison Barrett told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
"If Dreamworld is prosecuted, the highest penalty is up to A$3 million (£1.9m; $2.2) for a corporation. So Dreamworld itself, and then the directors themselves can also be held personally liable and face up to five years in jail and other hefty penalties.""If Dreamworld is prosecuted, the highest penalty is up to A$3 million (£1.9m; $2.2) for a corporation. So Dreamworld itself, and then the directors themselves can also be held personally liable and face up to five years in jail and other hefty penalties."
Worst amusement park accidentsWorst amusement park accidents