Children ‘fortunate to survive’ deadly accident at theme park

Police say boy and girl were thrown clear after raft overturned and killed four adults

Two children are fortunate to be alive after they were thrown clear and survived an accident that killed their mothers and two other people on a river rapids ride at a popular theme park in Australia, police said onWednesday.

Two men and two women died in the accident on Tuesday at the Dreamworld park on Queensland state’s Gold Coast, Queensland Police Assistant CommissionerBrianCoddsaid.

The 30-year-old Thunder River Rapids ride whisks people in circular rafts along a fast-moving, man-made river, with a conveyor belt helping move the rafts through the water. Closed-circuit television footage showed the ride wasendingwhentwo rafts collided, Codd said.

A 10-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl were thrown clear as the six-person raft overturned and trapped the adults against the conveyor belt, he said.

“In terms of how they escaped, maybe through the providence of God or somebody, but it seems from what I’ve seen almost a miracle that anybody came out of that,” Codd said. “If we’re going to be thankful for anything, I’m thankful for that.”

The children had been traumatized and were being cared for by family, he said. Brian Codd,

Kim Dorsett, of Canberra, confirmed that two of the victims were her children: Kate Goodchild, 32, and Luke Dorsett, 35.

“I have two granddaughters — an 8-month-old and a 12-year-old — and it truly breaks my heart to know that my 8-month-old is never going to get to know her mum,” she toldThe Courier-Mail newspaper.

She said the 12-year-old “is completely devastated — she is blaming herself for what has happened.”

Kim Dorsett was on a family vacation with her children and Goodchild’s daughters from Canberra. Luke Dorsett’s partner, Roozi Araghi, 38, of Canberra, was also killed.

The boy’s mother was Cindy Low, a42-year-oldNewZealand citizen who lived in Sydney.

Codd said police would investigate reports of problems with the ride earlier on Tuesday, as well as maintenance Dreamworld said the ride had passed its annual safety inspection a month ago.

The park statement said it would reopen on Friday, but “activities will be limited to smaller rides, animal attractions and the water park”.

Thunder River is considered one of Dreamworld’s more tame, family-friendly rides and is open to children as young as 2. records and procedures.

It seems from what I’ve seen almost a miracle that anybody came out of that.” Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner

PATRICK HAMILTON / AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Lara Vincent and her 3-year-old son Xavier lay flowers at a tribute at the Dreamworld theme park on Australia’s Gold Coast on Wednesday, a day after four people were killed when a raft flipped over on the Thunder River Rapids ride.