Dreamworld tragedy: First responder’s message to family ‘I tried so hard’

THE First Aid officer who rushed to the scene of the Dreamworld tragedy says he’s ‘haunted relentlessly’ by the horror scene he discovered and wants the families of the victims to know one thing.

Shane Green was a first aid officer at Dreamworld on the day of the tragedy

SHANE Green wants to let the families of the four people who lost their lives in the Dreamworld tragedy know one thing:

“I tried so hard, I really did.”

The Dreamworld first aid officer was one of the first people on the scene at the Thunder River Rapids Ride, jumping in the water to help those tipped from a raft and trying to resuscitate them as emergency workers raced to the horror.

YOUNG GIRL’S BRAVERY AFTER TRAGEDY

Speaking about the incident for the first time, Mr Green recalls a scene befitting a horror movie and being “haunted relentlessly ever since” by the loss of tourists Roozi Araghi, 38, Luke Dorsett, 35, Kate Goodchild, 32, and Cindy Low, 42.

Shane Green was a first aid officer at Dreamworld on the day of the tragedy

He says he has struggled with his conscience during the many dark days in the past 12 months and even had to quit his job in search of solace in the isolation of the Southern Highlands in NSW.

“It’s still very difficult to talk about what happened,” the father of two says.

“Most people outside my circle of close friends and colleagues would not realise that I was the manager of the first aid department for Dreamworld and WhiteWater World and I was working ... on the 25th October last year.”
Mr Green, 48, worked at the Gold Coast theme park for four years after a long career as a paramedic and police officer.

He says he wants to share his story to “honour” the families of the four people who tragically lost their lives and the team which tirelessly tried to resuscitate the injured.

Kate Goodchild was one of four people killed in the Dreamworld tragedy

“I can say with my hand on my heart that I am so proud of each and every single one of my team for their efforts,” Mr Green says.

“To see my close friends and colleagues working together under the most trying and dangerous conditions. They know who they are and they know they have my utmost respect and admiration.

“ ... The ambulances arrived along with the police and the firefighters, but even their advanced skills and equipment were ineffective.”

The Thunder River Rapids Ride was considered one of Dreamworld’s most popular.

Despite being almost 30 years old, it was also one of the tamest for children because of its gentle path through the white water rapids.

The ride featured a six-person raft which would travel to the top of a wooden conveyor belt and glide down into a short pool as riders disembarked.

On October 25, 2016 an empty raft became lodged at the end of the conveyor belt and the raft carrying Ms Low, Mr Araghi, Mr Dorsett and Ms Goodchild collided with it and flipped, sending the group into the water.

Ms Goodchild’s 12-year-old daughter, Ebony, and Ms Ms Low’s 10-year-old son, Kieran, were thrown clear.

Ms Goodchild’s husband, David Turner, who had been waiting with the couple’s eight-month-old daughter, jumped the fence and dived into the muddy water.

The water was quickly drained from the ride and ambulance officers and Dreamworld staff provided CPR to the victims, but they could not be saved.

Roozi Araghi died in the tragedy.

“Afterwards, there was this surreal feeling, with little groups of us standing around trying to come to terms with what had happened,” a still shaken Mr Green remembers.

“I had to go to the police station to make a statement and I left at midnight but I couldn’t go home.

“A colleague and I had a coffee at 4am and then we simply returned to work.”

Twelve months on, the deaths still consume Mr Green.
Soon after the accident he left his job at Dreamworld and moved to the Snowy Mountains.

“I don’t think there are many people who could be so close to or hands on with such a tragedy and remain unaffected,” Mr Green said. “I certainly was (deeply affected) and still am.

Floral tributes left on the front lawn of Dreamworld for the victims killed in the tragedy. Pic Tim Marsden

“I am still trying to reconcile what happened.
“Only in the last few months have I let some of the thoughts and memories from that day creep into my consciousness in attempts to try and deal with them.
“Unfortunately I have no control over the ones that visit me when I sleep.

“There are still many dark times, but I am grateful for the support of the most understanding and caring partner.

“Twelve months on I will be thinking about my team and friends and also the families of those who were lost.”

Shine Lawyers Gold Coast branch manager Kimberly Allen said Mr Green was not alone in being haunted by the Dreamworld tragedy.

“We had lots of calls in the days after it happened mostly from traumatised people who witnessed the accident and needed help getting access to mental health services or needed to know their rights about taking time off work,” she said.

“It was a harrowing time for so many people.

“For the first people on the scene, like Shane, it was like walking into a living nightmare.
“You can imagine the impact that will have on him for the rest of his life and how it will change him forever.”

‘IT WAS LIKE A HORROR MOVIE’ AT DREAMWORLD TRAGEDY