Man who died saving niece in 2016 Dreamworld ride disaster among those recognised for bravery
A man killed in the 2016 Dreamworld rafting disaster has been posthumously given a bravery award after he used his final moments to save his niece.
Luke Dorsett – who died on 25 October 2016 when rafts on the Thunder River Rapids ride collided – was recognised with a commendation for brave conduct from the governor general.
Dorsett stopped his niece from falling out of a raft but died alongside his sister Kate Goodchild and his long-term partner Roozi Araghi. A fourth person, Sydney woman Cindy Low, was also killed at the Gold Coast theme park.
Doresett’s mother, Kim Dorsett, said Tuesday night’s bravery award reflected her son’s character. He was “loyal to the core” and, as an uncle, wanted his nieces to have “the best childhood ever”, she said.
Kim Dorsett lost three members of her family on that day in October 2016. She was left with a “life sentence” of waking up each day knowing there were faces she would never see again.
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But she knows if Luke hadn’t bravely intervened “we wouldn’t have [his niece] either”.
Danny Haber was in the queue at Dreamworld when he heard the rafts colliding. He jumped the safety barrier and ran towards the sounds of people screaming.
Haber has been commended for his brave conduct and also received a group award shared with fellow bystanders turned first responders including Thomas Hanson and Joedy Vincent.
Haber attempted to save some of those trapped in the ride who ultimately died and also carried children away from the scene to prevent them from seeing the unfolding horror.
“They must have realised something untoward was happening but they still decided they needed to get in and help,” Kim Dorsett said. “It says a lot about those people who decided to jump in first and ask later.”
The governor general, David Hurley, said he hoped posthumous bravery awards brought “some comfort” to loved ones and ensured “their stories will not be forgotten”.
Two Australian bravery lists are announced each year with an independent council making recommen
dations to the governor general.
Hurley recognised 89 people for their brave acts across 50 decorations on Tuesday. Eight were awarded a bravery medal, 38 received a commendation for brave conduct and four group bravery awards were presented to 45 people.
A group of nine colleagues in Moura, Queensland, were recognised for their quick thinking after a frontend loader caught fire inside a factory storing about 3,5000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate.
Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound used as fertiliser – and as an explosive. According to SafeWork South Australia, 95% of ammonium nitrate in Australia is used as an explosive in the mining industry.
In January 2018, the front-end loader caught fire inside the factory.
The driver managed to move the vehicle five metres away from the stockpile before the fire rendered it inoperable.
An staff member initiated the site’s emergency procedures while another called triple zero. Others put the fire out and towed the burning truck from the shed where it was fully extinguished.
Another group award was given to 32 police officers and paramedics who responded to the Lindt cafe siege in 2014.