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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Dreamworld: Australia theme park under fire from victims' families | Dreamworld: Australia theme park under fire from victims' families |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Ardent Leisure's CEO told a news briefing the company had offered "every assistance we can" to the families. | 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. | 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. |
| Plans to reopen the park on Friday for a memorial will now not go ahead. | |
| Dreamworld said in a statement that police had advised they needed more time to complete their investigation. | |
| 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. |
| They died when their raft on the Thunder River Rapids ride collided with another and flipped over. | |
| 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. | 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? | 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. | 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. | 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," | "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. | 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". | 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." | "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' |
| Earlier, Ardent had defended the theme park's safety record. | Earlier, Ardent had defended the theme park's safety record. |
| "Prior to Tuesday, there has never been a death at the park due to a ride incident," the company said in a statement. | "Prior to Tuesday, there has never been a death at the park due to a ride incident," the company said in a statement. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 accidents | Worst amusement park accidents |