Man lay ‘like a rag doll’
THE best friend of a man who fell from Dreamworld’s log ride last year told investigators he watched a ride cart run over the top of his mate.
Tristan Savage, who had been sitting in front of Samson Sherrin on the Rocky Hollow Log Ride, said he had earlier seen Mr Sherrin laying on the log ride track, “like a rag doll’’.
He said he heard Mr Sherrin make a “woah’’ sound, as the ride went up the first incline, but thought he was just enjoying the ride and did not see him fall, an investigation report said.
“I looked around when we got to the corner, just after the first incline, and Samson wasn’t in the boat,’’ Mr Savage said in an interview with an investigator, filed in the Supreme Court.
A Supreme Court order on Thursday allowed Mr Sherrin to proceed with a personal injury damages claim against the Coomera theme park’s owners, Ardent Leisure.
Mr Sherrin suffered concussion, a fractured foot and fractured pelvis, after falling into water and onto a track on April 17 last year.
In an interview with a Workplace Health and Safety Queensland investigator last year, filed by Littles Lawyers for Mr Sherrin, he said he could not recall anything while he was on the ride.
A WHSQ inspector last year concluded Mr Sherrin most likely had been standing or seated on the rear portion of the ride and fell out when the car started its way up the first incline. Mr Sherrin’s lawyers said, in a filed document, Mr Sherrin was seated at all times while on the ride.
“We can confirm that this case is before the court and is being defended, and that it is not appropriate for us to comment further at this time,’’ an Ardent spokeswoman said. SHE’S only 11 but Sarah Spiegel will take on a challenge most adults are reluctant to try.
The Year 6 Robina State School student is prepped to hit the pavement to walk a half marathon to fundraise for her school’s chaplaincy program.
This will be the fourth year Sarah has participated in the Ks4Kids Walkathon & Run which will be held at Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta on Saturday.
“I want to raise $1000 that will go to support school chaplaincy ... I have only raised $200 so far,” Sarah said.
Robina State School deputy principal Nickie Galloway said the chaplaincy program was “valued very highly” by the school community.