Australian amusement park operator fined $2.5 million over accident that killed four people

SYDNEY (Reuters) – An Australian court has ordered theme park operator Ardent Leisure Group Ltd sentenced to pay a fine of A$3.6 million (US$2.5 million) over the deaths of four people in a rapids-riding accident.

A brother and sister were among two men and two women who died almost instantly in 2016 when two rafts collided before falling onto the ride’s mechanical ramp at the Gold Coast’s Dreamworld, a major tourist attraction.

“Ardent accepts responsibility for this tragedy without qualification or reservation,” said company Chairman Gary Weiss and Theme Parks CEO John Osborne.

“We sincerely hope that the conclusion of the prosecution will help advance the healing process,” they said in a joint statement.

The fine followed a coroner’s finding this year that Ardent had ignored warnings and failed to implement adequate safety controls, after which the matter was referred to an industry prosecutor who brought charges of workplace safety violations against the company.

The fine imposed by the court was less than the maximum fine of A$4.5 million required for the charges to which Ardent had previously pleaded guilty.

According to media reports, Ardent has already paid about 5 million Australian dollars in more than 20 claims for damages related to the incident.

(Reporting by Byron Kaye; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)