Myzone
Email for trade enquiries: Enquiriesapac@myzone.org Customer support desk - Click Myzone support or go to ‘help’ on myzone app to access live support. Myzone® is the leading…
read moreA paramedic who was one of the first on the scene at the fatal ride incident at Dreamworld in October 2016 has described what faced first responders.
Former Dreamworld safety officer Shane Green yesterday told the Coronial inquest examining the fatalities on the Thunder River Rapids ride that nothing could have improved the medics' response to the harrowing scene they were confronted with.
Green advised “in all honesty if you had had the world's leading cardiothoracic surgeon, neurosurgeons, traumatic surgeons in that place at the exact time it happened and with all their equipment nothing would have changed the outcome.
"With the injuries that they had suffered there was little more we could do."
The deaths of Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett and Roozi Araghi are under examination at a coronial inquest on the Gold Coast after the group were killed instantly when their raft collided with an empty vessel and flipped backwards in October 2016.
Another paramedic who was one of the first on the scene said he did not immediately know a fourth person was trapped underwater.
Former Dreamworld safety officer John Clark told the court he was aware of three patients and was performing resuscitation when he was made aware of a fourth person.
Clark stated “when I was attempting to resuscitate the patient I had, I don't know if the water receded or the gentleman floated up, but there was another patient.”
Clark was rostered on as safety officer, stationed just 30 metres away from the entrance to the Thunder River Rapids ride on the day of the incident.
He said he realised the gravity of the situation the moment he arrived on the scene, advising "on that day, personally I've never come across anything that would have made my life, for want of a better word, easy. It was an extraordinary event.”
Green also agreed that there was a "degree of financial constraint" that prevented him from doing his job effectively.
Green and Clark are both taking legal action against Dreamworld, having engaged Shine Lawyers to sue the theme park’s operators for "psychological injuries" they suffered.
Earlier, Dreamworld ride operator Stephen Buss was asked if he was aware of emergency stop procedures for Dreamworld ride in relation to an earlier incident at the Gold Coast theme park.
Buss was sacked in 2014 for his role in an incident when two rafts containing visitors collided on the ride's conveyor belt, but no one was injured.
He agreed that emergency responses were "drilled" into staff and there were regular audits of staff, where emergency situations were spoken about.
As reported by the ABC, Buss explained “they would describe scenarios that were possible on the ride you know, pump stops and what you do, a guest falls in and what you do, a raft comes back and there's one less person, what you do.”
Buss said he was "confused" when he saw the 2016 incident on television and wondered why the conveyer was not stopped.
The inquest was also shown a letter from on-site union representative, Jarad Drysdale, which was addressed prior to the October 2016 incident to an email group titled ‘Dreamworld Operations Ideas’.
The letter detailed staff concerns that they did not have the support of management.
Drysdale wrote “talk about staff having to pee at their rides, leaving their rides unattended and even being hospitalised with a kidney infection because of personals taking too long.
"But my major concern about this in regards to the point I am trying to make is that staff say, supervisors don't care they are just out to get you."
Image: Dreamworld’s Thunder River Rapids ride in operation prior to the October 2016 fatalities.
9th October 2018 - Staff to sue Dreamworld over ‘significant psychological injuries’
8th October 2018 - Reopened Dreamworld inquest hears ‘everybody’ failed to ensure ride’s safety prior to fatalities
27th August 2018 - Dreamworld looks to attract visitors with entry fee drop and LEGO exhibition
23rd August 2018 - Village Roadshow blames Commonwealth Games and Dreamworld deaths for disappointing results
22nd August 2018 - Ardent Leisure losses grow as Dreamworld’s value declines by $75 million
16th August 2018 - Queensland Government regulators left inspections of fatal ride up to Dreamworld
30th July 2018 - Ride fatalities aftermath continues to drive down Dreamworld’s value
1st July 2018 - Coronial inquest claims Dreamworld Chief Executive
30th June 2018 - Ardent Leisure issues statement of apology over Dreamworld deaths
29th June 2018 - Dreamworld ride ‘should not have been in service’ at time of four guest fatalities
26th June 2018 - Inquest hears that Dreamworld cut back maintenance in months before 2016 ride fatalities
18th June 2018 - Coronial inquest begins into 2016 Dreamworld fatalities
28th March 2018 - Dreamworld and SkyPoint look to welcome Commonwealth Games athletes, volunteers and accredited media
26th July 2017 - Ardent Leisure shareholder Ariadne calls for $25 million in new attractions at Dreamworld
24th May 2017 - Ardent looks to quash Dreamworld sale rumours, explores site rezoning plan
4th April 2017 - Ardent Leisure Chief Executive ‘appeared to be ducking for cover’ following Dreamworld fatalities
30th November 2016 - Dreamworld and WhiteWater World to reopen on Saturday 10th December
9th November 2016 - Dreamworld announce ‘permanent closure’ of ride involved in fatal incident
27th October 2016 - Ardent Leisure in turmoil after Dreamworld ride tragedy
Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.
The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.
Email for trade enquiries: Enquiriesapac@myzone.org Customer support desk - Click Myzone support or go to ‘help’ on myzone app to access live support. Myzone® is the leading…
read moreAt easyemployer we've come up with a software solution that manages one of your most important, and often most costly, business resources - your staff. We are helping 100s of clients to…
read moreCompliant chemical storage and decanting solutions. Includes spill kits, spill containment pallets, chemical decanting decks and safety shower and eyewash equipment. See our full range of solutions
read morePerfect Gym Solutions is a software as a service (SaaS) solution purpose-built to service the fitness industry, with over 1000 clients servicing over two million gym members across 40 countries making…
read moreFounded in 1961, Myrtha Pools® quickly became Italy’s première swimming pool company, and has since grown into one of the world's leading swimming pool construction…
read moreOtium Planning Group is a contemporary sport and leisure consultancy providing services in planning, facility development, management and funding for the sport, recreation and leisure industries…
read moreHydrocare Pool Services Pty Ltd offer 30 years of experience in aquatic industry features, products and water treatment. Hydrocare Pools has undertaken water treatment for aquatic centres and…
read moreGoplay designs and manufactures specialised playground equipment for indoor play centres, hotels, food chains, clubs and resorts. If our years of experience and dedication have taught us one thing,…
read moreGet your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!