Dreamworld to pay for home for ride victim Cindy Low’s family
Two young children and the husband of a woman killed in the Dreamworld ride tragedy are set to receive an unspecified sum of money from the theme park’s owner to help support them in life.
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Two young children and the husband of a woman killed in the Dreamworld ride tragedy are set to receive an unspecified sum of money from the theme park’s owner to help support them.
Kieran Elijah Low and Isla Grace Low will receive the money as part of a settlement of their claim as dependants of Cindy Low, who was killed on the Thunder River Rapids ride at Dreamworld, in Coomera, on October 25, 2016.
In the Supreme Court on Wednesday, Justice Susan Brown approved the sum to be paid by Dreamworld owner Ardent Leisure Limited.
The children’s father, Mathew Bernard Low, has been appointed to “receive, hold and manage” the settlement sum on behalf of his children for damages due to loss of dependence and wrongful death.
The money is for the maintenance, benefit and support of the children and will be held in the NKI Trust, where each child will have their own investment accounts, the court heard.
Mr Low, who is an accountant, intends to use his portion of the settlement to buy a family home, the court heard.
Ms Low, 42, was on the ride with 10-year-old Keiran at the time but he escaped uninjured.
Two rafts collided on a conveyor when a water pump failed and caused water levels to drop dramatically.
The victims’ raft was pushed into a vertical position and they plunged into the ride machinery, receiving fatal injuries.
Kate Goodchild, brother Luke Dorsett and his partner, Roozi Araghi, were also killed.
Justice Brown said she was satisfied the settlement was reasonable and for the benefit of the dependants.
In 2020, the Coroner’s Court labelled Dreamworld’s actions a total failure, adding that the hazards on the Thunder River Rapids ride posed significant risk to patrons.
Coroner James McDougall said there had been a systemic failure by Dreamworld to ensure all aspects of safety.
He said it was very fortunate nobody was killed on the ride prior to the 2016 tragedy.
“There is no evidence that Dreamworld ever conducted a proper risk assessment of the ride in its 30 years of commission,” he said.
Mr McDougall referred owners Ardent Leisure Limited to the Office of Industrial Relations for prosecution over failing to comply with health and safety laws.
Ardent pleaded guilty to three charges and was fined $3.6m for failing to take steps to minimise the risk of injuring or killing someone.
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