4 killed on river ride at Australian theme park

By Recep Sakar

MELBOURNE, Australia

Four people were killed Tuesday when a river ride at an Australian theme park malfunctioned.

News broadcaster ABC cited early investigations as indicating that water on the ride at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast pushed one raft into another, causing one to overturn.

Of the victims, whose ages ranged from 32 to their early 40s, two were thrown off a raft while the others were trapped inside.

ABC quoted the Queensland Ambulance Service’s senior operations supervisor as saying that the ride “had sustained some sort of malfunction causing two people to be ejected... another two people were caught inside the ride".

"Two males and two females, they were assessed by Queensland ambulance personnel and had all sustained injuries that were incompatible with living," Gavin Fuller added.

Dreamworld’s chief executive, Craig Davidson, said the park was closed after the accident occurred at 2.20 p.m. (0320GMT), with Dreamworld working closely with police and emergency services and authorities during an ongoing investigation.

He said the company was "deeply shocked and saddened by this and our hearts and our thoughts go to the families involved and to their loved ones".