Four dead in Australian theme park incident
Video report by ITV News Correspondent Juliet Bremner
Four people - including a mother and her brother - have died in an incident at an Australian theme park.
Queensland Police confirmed that four adults had died "following reports that a number of people had been injured by a conveyor belt".
The incident happened on the Thunder River Rapids family ride at Dreamworld on the country's Gold Coast.
Australian media reported one of the ride's six-seat tyre-style carriages flipped-over on the conveyor belt that takes ride users back to the boarding and disembarking area, at around 2.20pm local time.
Gavin Fuller, a spokesperson for Queensland Ambulance Service said that the incident happened when "one of the rides sustained a malfunction" causing two passengers to be "ejected" from the ride, while two more were "caught" inside.
Gavin Fuller, a spokesperson for Queensland Ambulance Service explains what happened in the incident
Mr Fuller added that the four people who died in the incident suffered injuries that were "incompatible with living".
He continued that there were no other passengers in the vehicle involved.
Kate Goodchild, whose partner and 18-month-old child were watching, was among those killed in the incident.
Ms Goodchild's brother, Luke Dorset, his partner Roozi Araghi, and an unnamed 42-year-old woman also died.
Mr Fuller added that the state coroner had assessed the scene.
Craig Davidson, CEO of Dreamworld, described the deaths as "tragic", adding that the theme park was "deeply shocked and saddened by this incident and our hearts and our thoughts go to the families involved and to their loved ones".
Mr Davidson continued that the park was working closely with the emergency services and health and safety authorities to establish the facts of what had happened.
In a statement the theme park said: "Dreamworld is working as quickly as possible to establish the facts around the incident and is working closely with emergency authorities and police to do this."
"Dreamworld’s focus and priority is with the families of those involved in this tragedy and will be providing an update to the public as soon as information becomes available."
Lia Capes, who was just about to go on the Thunder River Rapids ride when she saw people running out crying said: "Everyone was screaming.
"We saw [a] little girl and we believe it was her mum because it was just her and her little sister that was an infant.
"I was speaking to one of the guys and he said it was the raft or the boat thing in front of him, the whole thing flipped and everyone was screaming."
Ms Capes added Dreamworld staff quickly evacuated the area.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called the incident a "tragic accident"
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has paid tribute to those who were killed at the theme-park.
He said, “This is a very sad day for our city. Our thoughts are with the families of those affected and the emergency staff in attendance. I urge everyone to show the respect needed as the relevant authorities undertake investigations in to what has occurred. A truly sad day for all.”
American Olympic gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz tweeted to say that he had been on the ride involved just minutes before the incident which happened shortly after 3pm local time.
The Thunder River Rapids ride is described on Dreamworld's website as a "moderate thrill".
"Travel down a foamy water track past the Gold Rush Country, speeding up to 45 km/h through the turbulent rapids," the website reads.
It said up to six people could be seated per ride and riders must be 120cm tall.
The park has closed following the incident.