Australian ride deaths/accidents

[themagician]

I remember a couple of years ago a young girl nearly drowned in the cave of waves at WWW. The parents went off to get ske

food leaving the young girl with their sister (who too wasn't very old). She went of to her parents. Luckily lifeguards spotted her, but I believe she was taken to hospital.

[MickeyD]

The only deaths I heard about in an Australian theme park is some Asians once fell out of the Kodak Skylink Chairlift and died also once a freak storm went through Dreamworld and knocked tree branches onto the chairlift. No one died but it was very hard to get everyone off. It never opened again after that. The Kodak Skylink Chairlift was the scariest ride in the park and very unsafe. I'm glad it closed. They should replace it with a system like at Sea World eher it can stop at the stations.

Regarding the chairlift accident, I can tell you step by step what happened but I won't bore you. Surfice it to say the accident involved 2 people (attendant & female guest from Singapore) which were not killed, but both hospitalised. They fell a fair height onto a rather hard surface - the kangaroo enclosure after an alarmed tourist alerted a nearby shop keeper who ran up and pressed the estop. The ride attendant, sighting the passenger trying to get off barely two metres before the end of the platform, left her post, ran to the chair and grabbed her from behind, attempting to restrain her by grappling her arms around the riders chest. They both fell shortly after the estop was pressed and the attendant lost her grip. The Attendant broke her wrist I believe while the passenger had a few broken ribs and shoulder. I am sure she has vivid memories of her Dreamworld one day holiday experience as no doubt does the injured staff member

Now Class, would somebody like to tell me how this whole messy accident could have been avoided?

Edited July 20, 2014 by MickeyD

[Reanimated35]

ooh ooh me! pick me! me! sir! pick me sir!!!!

[Reanimated35]

If you read his post in the other thread. A tourist was "killed" on the chairlift. (See MickeyD's response though)

[MickeyD]

Yes Mista Reanimated35?

[New display name]

A lady jumped off it once.

[Reanimated35]

[MickeyD]

There have actually been a number of accidents at DW over the years. As far as I can think of all of them could have been avoided with the proper training and better systems in place. Despite the Park's age and numerous owners over the years, they have always maintained their 'private' and in-house ways of doing things their own way. The 'competition' on the other hand have always very much learned and educated themselves following the success of overseas parks, ensuring they are ahead of the game. I believe it's something to do with core values of how they run their park. They have always maintained their beliefs that their park is the best and they are the market leaders, so never saw the need for help or guidance from others.. Hmmmmm. ?

[westical]

Shop keeper must have been pretty fast to run up and press the estop.

[Jobe]

There have been several deaths at Luna Park Melbourne specifically related to the Scenic Railway and the Big Dipper.Mr Clarence Hurst was killed on the Scenic Railway Rollercoaster in January 1926, after he turned around to speak to someone behind him. As he was half hanging out of the car his head was struck by one of the coasters supports. The man next to him grabbed hold of his legs to stop him from falling out, but Hurst was already dead.

The Big Dipper was another of the parks rollercoaster’s, and in March of 1935 it too saw a fatality. Mr M Dyer, 21, fell out of the car at the highest point of the ride, and fell 74 feet to his death. He died of multiple broken bones, internal injuries and a severed leg.

The following year, Harry Maltby died, when he fell out of one trolley car to be struck by another.

However there was one death at LPM , whilst not attributed to death by amusement device, was most peculiar. Mrs Elizabeth Patrick was walking out of the park and along the street when she suddenly complained that she was going to collapse. Her final words to her husband Earnest Patrick were 'Get me out quick, I'm fainting.' before promptly hitting the pavement.

At the time Elizabeth Patrick had fainted, a Luna Park superintendant was collecting ticket money from the cashiers aided by three park attendants. One of the attendants, Keith Eagle, left the group in order to tell three youths to move on and leave the park after they had made a disturbance. The leader of the three youths, Edward Paulin, told Eagle that they were doing no wrong, and why should they leave. Eagle pulled out his firearm (carried when the park was full and he was escorting money transportation) and fired a shot. Edward Paulin threw two bottles at Eagle, who fired another shot.

This second shot hit a person witnessing the events in the hand. After firing this second shot Eagle handed his firearm to another of the park attendants, Alexander Porter, who shot himself in the leg when putting it into his pocket.

Three shots were fired that night and three people were hit. The first shot had in fact hit, and killed, Elizabeth Patrick. Her husband, only learning of this when a doctor at the hospital had told him his wife had been shot!

The result of the following trial was that death was due to misadventure, and the only thing Eagle was guilty of was carelessness (just short of criminal negligence). The park changed its method of escorting money shortly after.

A man also fell from the Big Dipper at LPS on the 27th April 1946 to his death. This man had reportedly been standing up several times on the rides journey and during the final turn into the station he attempted to sit on the back of the seat and fell out as the car rounded the final bend.

Our parks are small fry in the realm of ride-deaths. I'm unaware of any ride deaths that were a direct result of poor practices by the park involved EXCEPT the LPS ghost train

This is true although there are theories that poor practices were not the final cause of the Ghost train deaths. The Ghost train normally operated with three attendants- an operator, a ticket collector and a third person who patrolled the interior watching for mischief. On the night of the fire, there were only 2 staff, leaving the interior unpatrolled and vulnerable.

Whilst I am not sure why this third person was not at the Ghost Train on the night it is obvious that it should never have been allowed to happen.

Below is a link to an article that links crime boss Abe Saffron directly to the deaths and the accident at LPS that night. Whilst never proven, this conspiracy theory has persisted since that fateful night and does provide food for thought.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/niece-links-abe-saffron-to-luna-park-deaths/2007/05/25/1179601666851.html

[Gary86]

Unsafe how exactly? Are you saying DW operated an unsafe ride?

You never were locked in and could lift the harness during the ride. Also the ride never stopped and you could easily get injured while boarding. (The chair would bump you)

[Reanimated35]

Maybe the 3rd operator was the horned man?

[Reanimated35]

So you mean basically every ski lift style chair lift in existence?

It's just sad really that common sense doesn't seem to belong to everyone these days

[Jobe]

Maybe the 3rd operator was the horned man?

There were many strange coincidences about that tragic day....that is but another story!!

[Jobe]

The thing about common sense is that it really isn't that common unfortunately........................ :angry2:

[rappa]

Yep typical response these days in non European countries.

I'm not forcibly prevented from endangering myself on purpose = unsafe

[Reanimated35]

Don't forget the classic - "You got my kid too excited and he ran and tripped over so now I'm suing you"

[SAR]

Braving the cold yesterday at LPS and it was the first time I had seen the plaque commemorating the seven souls who died that night. Probably not a great marketing idea but a shame that there is not a more meaningful memorial.

[Richard]

To my knowledge Dreamworld's chairlift lacked a tripwire at the end of the platforms that would almost certainly have avoided any injury in the series of dumb events that have been described above. But above all the events as described point primarily to a lacking in policy or training rather than any missing safety components.

The real shame in the Dreamworld chairlift saga is that rather than update or replace a very old and outdated ride with something modern and safe they've elected to decommission and leave the remains standing. Chairlifts are not expensive rides.

[Jobe]

Braving the cold yesterday at LPS and it was the first time I had seen the plaque commemorating the seven souls who died that night. Probably not a great marketing idea but a shame that there is not a more meaningful memorial

The plaque is only part of the memorial that LPS has for the Ghost Train tragedy. On top of the car park there is a garden which comprises some of the historic Moreton Bay figs that have graced the site since before the park was built. This green space forms part of the memorial for the 7 people that lost their lives that night. Access to this is only available from the top of Alfred Street adjacent to the entrance of the car park.

[JacobSibbald]

I know this has no relation to anything but I felt someone had to say it.

Brad2912, after reading through the forums for the past couple of months, I have noticed you've taken an antagonistic viewpoint against most of the things that are said in these forums. If you believe someone is wrong and even if you yourself are wrong, you should not try to fight it - instead point it out and leave it go. I know it's not in my place to say it as I'm not a community leader etc, but the constant bickering has seemed to have lead more than one forum off track.

I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels this way....

Edited July 23, 2014 by JacobSibbald

[Brad2912]

Umm, excuse me mate??

What are you talking about? Give me an example?

Show me a time where I have been antagonistic? I'm i feel someone is wrong I'll tell them how i feel it is. I'm not rude, I don't betlittle people.

I request you remove that ridiculous comment unless you can give me some specific examples.

If a 'community leader' had an opinion on the matter and verbalised I'd certainly listen, but I honestly have no clue what you are referring to.

If you can't handle some healthy debate or conversation when someone disagrees with your opinion (which I can't even recall engaging in with yourself) then I suggest the problem is yours and you need to deal with that issue rather than deflect it onto others.

Edited July 23, 2014 by Brad2912

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

^i've found it's much nicer (and ultimately, much more productive) if members having disputes resolve them in private message, rather than open arguments on the boards.

Brad - I have no beef with you - but you do stir the pot on occasion... I also join in my fair share of stirring on occasion, and i've been pulled up on this a couple of times by considerate members who thought to PM me and discuss the issues privately. Note that these issues almost always resolve themselves without involvement from any 'community leaders'.

Jacob - Brad's last comment in this thread is over 20 posts and 3 days ago. I think you missed the moment.

Not trying to be a 'mod' here - just telling it how it is from my own experience that there are better ways than a drawn out shitstorm inside a thread (which, judging by Brad's reply is probably brewing). (Examples of the issues you're having are usually very helpful to help understand your issue rather than making generalised "antagonistic" or "argumentative" or "arrogant" statements.

Hope that helps.

[Brad2912]

Don't disagree with anything you've said AlexB.

Jacob, if you'd like to discuss further send me a PM.

Happy for a mod to delete the prior comments

Back to normal transmissions.

[Reanimated35]

Shit Brad, get it together man. What an ass.

I got no idea what he's talking about either though. I guess at some point in the past you've pointed out a mistake of his and he's bitter or something. Looking at his post history, July 5 is the only time I can see him quoting you on anything recently.

But since we're dragging up the past, remember back in nineteen-dickity-two when you first signed up? Yeah, something you said back there was .......rude....or something.....anyway, I hate you now and you need to be nice.......or something

As far as Aussie park accidents go, we've spoken on Dreamworld and Luna Park. What else have we got?

I don't recall seeing the Dreamworld chopper crash mentioned, or the Seaworld chopper hi-jacking either.