Dreamworld Inquest: Two kids who escaped the fatal Dreamworld incident remained strapped in the raft
THE two children in the raft that flipped on the Thunder River Rapids Ride at Dreamworld in 2016 remained strapped in until the conveyor belt had stopped, the inquest has heard.
Crime and Court
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THE two children in the raft that flipped on the Thunder River Rapids Ride remained strapped in until the conveyor belt had stopped, the inquest has heard.
The Gold Coast’s former top cop, Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd, had told the Gold Coast Bulletin the day after the tragedy that victim Kate Goodchild’s daughter Ebony, 12, and victim Cindy Low’s son Kieran, 10, were thrown from the raft on October 25, 2016.
Forensic crash investigator Senior Constable Steven Cornish, who viewed the footage about 1000 times, told the Southport Coroners Court yesterday he saw something different.
‘BUTTONS HAD VASTLY DIFFERENT STOPPING TIMES’
ANALYSIS: TWISTS AND TURNS IN DREAMWORLD INQUEST
In cross-examining Sen-Const. Cornish, barrister Robert Davis — acting for the families of Ms Goodchild and another victim, Luke Dorsett — asked: “In the interest of accurate reporting, the two children in the raft weren’t thrown out of the raft. They remained in place until it stopped and then climbed out of the raft?”
Sen-Const. Cornish: “Yes.”
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It is not clear how long the two children remained strapped in the raft after it flipped.
The inquiry has also not been told why Ms Goodchild and her brother, Luke Dorsett, fell from the raft after it was inverted but the children remained seated.
Passengers were secured in the raft by velcro belts.
IT TOOK 20 SECONDS FOR CONVEYOR TO STOP
DREAMWORLD INQUEST: 17 YEARS OF WARNINGS IGNORED
The inquiry was told part of the reason the belt was velcro was to ensure passengers could easily remove it in an emergency.
One day after the deaths, Assistant Commissioner Codd said when speaking at Dreamworld:
“The fortunate thing was that the two children managed to escape disaster …
“Yes I have watched the CCTV, it is a very important part of our investigation … how they (the children) survived was by the providence of God.
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“Seems from what I’ve seen, it’s almost a miracle anyone came out of that.
“The children … they were thrown from the ride and managed to extricate themselves …”
Assistant Commissioner Codd declined to comment last night as it was “not appropriate … while the coronial inquiry is underway”.
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