3 dead in Australia theme park accident: Dreamworld
Sydney, Australia: At least three people were killed on Tuesday in an accident at a theme park on Australia’s popular Gold Coast, the park said, with reports that it involved the water-based Thunder River Rapids ride.
‘Dreamworld confirms there has been at least three fatalities at its theme park in Queensland today,’ it said, adding that it was working to ‘establish the facts around the incident’.
Police said they were dealing with a ‘critical incident’ at Dreamworld.
‘We’ve got four people in a critical condition. We believe something’s happened with one of the rides,’ a Queensland Police spokesman told AFP.
‘What’s actually happened we’re not too sure at this stage.’
The Brisbane Courier Mail said three people may have died, although this was not confirmed.
The Gold Coast Bulletin said the accident was believed to involve the Thunder River Rapids ride, which uses a conveyor belt and six-person circular rafts.
It said one person was understood to be trapped in the conveyor belt and three others injured with emergency services at the scene.
Dreamworld, which has over 40 rides and attractions, had no immediate comment.