Fast-track evidence for ‘anguished’ safety boss

LAWYERS for Ardent Leisure safety manager Angus Hutchings will this morning apply for him to give evidence to the Dreamworld inquest earlier than planned to relieve his mental anguish.

The inquest is examining what happened on October 25, 2016, when a raft flipped on Dreamworld’s Thunder River Rapids Ride.

Luke Dorsett, his sister Kate Goodchild, Mr Dorsett’s partner Roozbeh Araghi and Cindy Low all died in the tragedy.

Mr Hutchings is not scheduled to give evidence until the third round of hearings in November.

Counsel assisting the coroner Ken Fleming yesterday told the inquest Mr Hutchings had asked to apply for special provisions.

Coroner James McDougall said he would hear the matter today.

Mr Hutchings is applying for the special provision in order to give evidence in the next two weeks to help alleviate stress as he waits to give evidence.

The application is expected to take place before Dreamworld junior engineer Gen Cruz returns to the witness stand.

Also scheduled to give evidence today are control room operator Nigel Irwin, former ride operator who was sacked after rafts flipped in 2014 Stephen Buss, safety officer John Clark, and first aid officer Ben Hicks.

Ms Low’s husband Matt Low is expected to return to watch the inquest unfold.

Ms Goodchild and Mr Dorsett’s parents Kim Dorsett and Shayne Goodchild are also expected to attend.

Ms Goodchild’s husband David Turner has chosen to spend the two weeks with his children, while the Araghi family have found the inquest too difficult to attend.