Dreamworld pleads guilty over Thunder River Rapids accident

Ardent Leisure, owners of Dreamworld, have pleaded guilty to charges relating to the tragic Thunder River Rapids accident in 2016 that killed four guests.

Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett and his partner Roozi Araghi died on October 26 2016 when a series of failures on the Thunder River Rapids caused two rafts to collide.

The charges follow on from a high profile coronial inquest, where it was determined that the accident stemmed from "systemic failure by Dreamworld in relation to all aspects of safety" and recommended the theme park's parent company Ardent Leisure be prosecuted.

Ardent Leisure was charged with three counts of Failure to Comply with Health and Safety Duty in the Southport Magistrates Court. Arraignment is set to take place on September 28.

The incident had a dramatic affect on Dreamworld, which has not turned a profit since. Financial pressures from Dreamworld's downfall have been compounded by the COVID-19 shutdown in March, leaving the theme park with no certain path to reopening as a result of their precarious financial position and questions about liquidity.

The theme park is currently the only Gold Coast theme park to remain closed.