‘Couldn’t save her’: Family to share in $2.15m payout as Dreamworld victim’s son struggles revealed

The family of the Dreamworld ride disaster victim Cindy Low will share a $2.15m court settlement, as their heartbreaking struggle over her death is revealed in court documents.

The family of a mother killed in the Dreamworld tragedy will share in a $2.15 million court settlement that has revealed her son’s “intense struggle” with not being able to save her.

Cindy Low’s husband Mathew Low and children Kieran and Isla were at the end of a day exploring the theme park on October 25 2016, when Kieran asked to have another turn at the Thunder River Rapids ride.

They decided to split up - Mr Low would take six-year-old Isla on a motorbike ride, while Cindy would go with Kieran, who was 10 at the time.

Details of the fateful moments were revealed in documents filed in the Brisbane Supreme Court as part of the settlement of a damages claim due to “loss of dependence”.

Mr Low, an IT executive, and Isla were waiting at the coffee shop they had agreed to reunite after the ride, Mr Low said in his affidavit filed in court.

“A lady in a Dreamworld uniform came up to us and asked me if I was Kieran’s father. The lady took me and Isla around to the ride and I saw Kieran sitting outside the Ride’s entrance with staff looking very distressed,” Mr Low said.

Mathew and Cindy Low on their wedding day in Fiji, 2004.

“Kieran said to me words to the effect that another empty boat on the ride hit them a few times and the boat that he and Cindy were on flipped over.”

“He was very sure Cindy was badly hurt and he was upset he could not save her.”

While in a room beside the ride, police and paramedics told the Low’s Cindy had died aged 42.

Miraculously, Kieran had only minor scratches from the incident that also claimed the lives of Kate Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett, and his partner Roozi Araghi.

In court on December 14, Justice Susan Brown approved the settlement sum of $2.15 million be split with Mr Low receiving $984,442, Isla $702,195, and Kieran $463,361.

She also ordered a further $280,000 be paid by Dreamworld operators Ardent Liesure Ltd for costs and outlays.

Mr Low told the court that he had also settled his claim against Ardent for his nervous shock injury “in a confidential settlement” in September.

He planned to wait until his children turned 18 before assisting them with their own personal injury damages suits.

Mathew Low, husband of victim Cindy Low.

Dreamworld victim Cindy Low.

“The emotional impacts of the incidents on me and my family have been severe,” Mr Low said in his court statement.

“Some things are particularly hard for us and the grief never seems to go away.”

“Due to the publicity of the event, I had to inform all of the family that Cindy and Kieran had been involved in the incident and that we lost Cindy. It was one of the most difficult tasks I have ever had to do.”

“After Kieran learned that Cindy had passed away, he was extremely distressed and did not talk to anyone, other than me, for three days.”

“Kieran was in extreme shock and was not sleeping. He had intense night terrors, for a period of 6-12 months, where he relived the incident. He would wake up screaming and run around the house until I could calm him and get him back into bed.”

In an earlier statement to court, Mr Low revealed Kieran would not speak about what he saw with anyone but his father.

“He struggles intensely with guilt at not being able to save her,” the statement sworn in 2020 said.

Special events like Christmas, Mother’s Day and birthdays are particularly hard.

“Cindy loved to plan the children’s birthday parties and especially a unique birthday cake. She would spend months preparing the cake she thought the children would love. We would make it together,” Mr Low said.

Matthew Low (left) outside court in 2020. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Mr Low alleged in his notice of claim filed in court that Ardent caused his wife’s death by failing to switch off the ride before the rafts collided, but Ardent’s lawyers stated in correspondence filed in court that it “does not admit” the incident was caused by its failure to flick the switch.

Mr Low was concerned about Isla, who is now 12, entering her teen years missing out on mother daughter conversations.

“Isla gets very distressed about not having her mother around to talk with,” Mr Low said in the 2020 statement.

“Isla often talks about how much she misses her mother’s hugs and kisses.”

“She has been active recently in finding out details on what happened and understanding why.”

Mathew and Cindy Low with their daughter Isla and son Kieran.

The process of the legal suit had been stressful for the family, forced to relive the “extremely distressing” event.

When Isla met with doctors she did not want to answer questions and “spent time reviewing media reports and looking at pictures of Cindy.”

Kieran did not get out of bed the next day, and both kids slept in their father’s bedroom during and after the medical assessment days, required as part of the damages claim.

The family were at Dreamworld on the fourth day of a road trip to Queensland, up from their home in East Gosford, New South Wales.

Cindy was taking a holiday before she was due to take up a promotion at Knight Frank Valuations in the accounts and administration team.

Cindy and Mr Low, both originally from New Zealand, met in Auckland working in hospitality in their early twenties.

They moved to Sydney in 2001 and were married in a Fiji ceremony in 2004.

Mr Low plans to use his portion of the settlement to complete his recent purchase of a family home.

The children’s money will go into a trust to pay for living expenses like school fees, clothing, and health costs.