Dreamworld rollercoaster crash: Recap after four die in incident at theme park

Authorities at the theme park in Queensland, Australia, confirmed that four visitors lost their lives

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• Updated 16:15, twenty five OCT 2016

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Four people have died after a theme park disaster in Australia.

You can recap today’s events below.

Key Events

Floral tributes left for victims

Those who have been shocked by today’s tragedy have left floral tributes for the four victims outside Dreamworld.

The victims are all from Australia’s capital city, Canberra.

What we know about the rail

The rail, meant to simulate going over sea rapids, uses round floating devices that seat six, and can reach speeds of twenty eight mph.

It is described by Dreamworld as a “moderate thrill” attraction for those older than the age of two.

Visitors to the theme park, thirty miles south of Brisbane, said they had seen repairs to the rail before the accident, but a Dreamworld spokeswoman said she was incapable to confirm the reports.

Movie shows hundreds of visitors leaving

This movie shows visitors leaving Dreamworld following the incident.

Floral tributes have been left outside the venue following the death of four people.

Ages of victims now confirmed

It is understood that the victims are aged 42, 38, thirty five and 32.

They are all reported to be from Canberra, Australia’s capital.

Reports: One victim is a Fresh Zealand woman

Local reports from Fresh Zealand are claiming that one of the victims was a woman from Fresh Zealand.

Four died, including two women and two guys.

They are thought to be aged inbetween thirty two and 40.

Park ‘closed until further notice’

Dreamworld has now made a brief statement on Twitter.

‘We are deeply shocked and saddened by this’

Dreamworld chief executive Craig Davidson has said that staff are deeply shocked by the incident today.

We are deeply shocked and saddened by this, and our hearts and our thoughts go out to the families involved and to their loved ones.

The park was closed after the malfunction.

Park holder shares drop 7%

Shares in park holder and operator, Ardent Leisure Group, have dropped 7% in the final hour of trade after the incident today.

Dreamworld said in a statement it was “working as quickly as possible to establish the facts around the incident”.

Dreamworld’s concentrate 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.

Australian Prime Minister issues statement

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has issued a brief statement.

Theme parks are a place for family joy and happiness, not tragedy.

Police use drone to scan crash scene

Police officers have been using a drone at the scene of the crash.

They are still working at the scene alongside emergency workers.

Everything we know so far

1. Four people have been killed on a sea rapids rail at Australia’s fattest theme park after a malfunction threw two of the victims off the rail and left the other two trapped inwards

Victims ‘related, and aged inbetween thirty two and 40’

Australian reports are claiming that the four victims are related.

However authorities could not yet confirm this.

It is also being reported that those who have died are aged inbetween thirty two and 40.

‘The rails had sustained some sort of malfunction’

Queensland Ambulance Services spokesman Gavin Fuller has now addressed reporters, confirming reports that the rail malfunctioned.

One of the rails had sustained some sort of malfunction causing two people to be ejected from the rail. Another two people were caught inwards the rail – two masculines and two females.

Dreamworld rail ‘malfunctioned’

Reports are emerging that the rail “malfunctioned”.

An investigation into how the disaster came about is already underway.

Four dead are two guys and two women

Todd Reid, the police officer addressing reporters at the conference, said that of the four people who have died, two are dudes and two are women.

However, he added that he could not confirm if they are related.

Identities are yet to be confirmed.

Press conference

A brief press conference is now being held.

A police spokesman told reporters that emergency workers are still working at the scene.

An investigation is now taking place into how the disaster took place.

‘Everyone was screaming’

Lia Capes, an eyewitness, has spoken about the horror of the incident.

We eyed [a] little doll and we believe it was her mum because it was just her and her little sister that was an infant. I was speaking to one of the guys and he said it was the raft or the boat thing in front of him, the entire thing flipped and everyone was screaming.

‘The entire thing flipped over’

A woman has given a harrowing account of the incident.

There was just police and lifeguards everywhere. It happened on the Rapids rail. I spoke to a boy and he said he looked behind and the entire thing flipped over.

Dreamworld issue statement

Total statement from Dreamworld.

Dreamworld confirms there has been at least three fatalities at its theme park in Queensland today. Dreamworld is working as quickly as possible to establish the facts around the incident and is working closely with emergency authorities and police to do this. Dreamworld’s concentrate 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.

Thunder Sea Rapids was closed earlier this year

Reports are emerging that Thunder Sea Rapids was closed earlier this year.

A “serious incident” eyed the conveyor belt slip, with passengers left trapped.

The rail is thirty four years old.

Dreamworld visitors leaving theme park

Visitors are now leaving the attraction.

It had been closed until further notice, as police and emergency services attend the scene.

Four fatalities are adults

Sources have now confirmed that the four fatalities are adults.

Police are yet to confirm the number of fatalities.

‘A truly sad day for all’

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has said that today is “a very sad day for our city”.

Our thoughts are with the families of those affected – and the emergency staff in attendance. I urge everyone to showcase the respect needed as the relevant authorities undertake investigations in to what has occurred. A truly sad day for all.

Latest pictures from the scene

These are the latest pictures from the scene of the Dreamworld disaster.

The incident took place on the Thunder Sea Rapids.

Reports indicate that at least four people have died.

Visitors became trapped

The incident took place at the Thunder Sea Rapids attraction – a circular, log flume-stye rollercoaster.

Eyewitnesses say that some visitors became trapped underneath one of the carriages.

Latest reports indicate that four have died but authorities are yet to confirm this.

Reports: Four dead

Four people have died in the disaster, according to reports.

Police have only issued a brief statement so far.

We are managing a critical incident at Dreamworld. There is nothing more we can confirm with any certainty at this stage.

Dreamworld rollercoaster crash

One person has died and three are injured after an accident on a theme park rail in Australia, according to reports.

The accident happened on a rollercoaster at Dreamworld in Queensland, it has been claimed.

Police said: “We are managing a critical incident at Dreamworld.

“There is nothing more we can confirm with any certainty at this stage.”

American Olympic champ Matthew Centrowitz Jnr. shows up to have been on the rail at the time, but escaped unharmed.

He tweeted: “Dude! Just got off a rail fifteen mins ago that has one person gravely injured & two others trapped #Dreamworld”

We’ll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and movie on this cracking news story.

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