Dreamworld staff feared for the safety of the Thunder River Rapids ride that killed four people 15 years before it malfunctioned.
A coronial inquest heard a worker at the theme park penned an email saying: ‘I shudder when I think if there had been guests on the ride’ after an incident on the ride back in 2001.
Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett and his partner Roozi Araghi lost their lives in the tragedy on the Gold Coast, Queensland in October 2016.
A coronial inquest into the deaths of the ride passengers killed on the Thunder River Rapids ride (pictured) at Dream World begins on Monday
On the opening day of an inquest into the tragedy, counsel assisting Ken Fleming QC revealed several earlier incidents had occurred on the Thunder River Rapids ride.
Mr Fleming said one incident, in January 2001, had resulted in several empty rafts colliding at the unloading point of the ride.
The incident was disturbingly similar to the one that resulted in the deaths of the four people in 2016.
Ms Goodchild’s 12-year-old daughter and Ms Low’s 10-year-old son were on the raft that flipped at the end of the ride, but survived.
Since the tragedy have sought answers and relatives of Ms Low have said how they hoped the probe would prevent others from suffering ‘such enormous heartbreak’.
Kate Goodchild, left, and her brother Luke Dorsett, right, died in the Thunder River Rapids ride
Cindy Low, left, and Mr Dorsett’s partner Roozi Araghi, right also died in the tragedy
Deborah Thomas, the former chief executive of Ardent Leisure, who owns the theme park, is expected to provide evidence at the hearing.
The hearing will look into factors including why the ride malfunctioned and if the staff at the park were properly trained.
Before Monday’s inquest several hearings were held and attended by lawyers for the four victims, Dreamworld chief executive Craig Davidson, Dreamworld’s parent company Ardent Leisure and the Office of Industrial Relations.
At a conference in April at the Brisbane Coroners Court it was suggested the inquest be held in two parts.
Coroner James McDougall last month ordered the list of witnesses needed to attend the inquest be finalised by June 1.
Final evidence submissions were to be made by June 8.
Dreamworld announced it would demolish the Thunder River Rapids Ride in November 2016.
Ardent Leisure report $62.6 million loss in the 2016 financial year after crowds dropped by up to 30 per cent.
Ms Goodchild’s 12-year-old daughter and Ms Low’s 10-year-old son were on the raft that flipped at the end of the ride, but survived
Dozens of people are expected to give evidence at the inquest, including the people who witnessed the tragedy. A floral tribute is pictured
Mourners (pictured) at the candlelight vigil outside the theme park on October 28 2016
Dozens of people will evidence at the inquest at the Southport Courthouse (pictured) on the Gold Coast