Dreamworld accident: 2 girls survive fatal theme park ride malfunction

Two young girls survived a deadly ride malfunction at Australia's largest theme park, which killed four people on Tuesday.

Police said Wednesday the girls, aged 10 and 13, were able to "extricate themselves", in what Brian Codd, Assistant Commissioner for Southeast Region of Queensland Police Service, described as "almost a miracle."

Six people were riding on a "flume" at the Thunder River Rapids Ride at Dreamworld theme park in Queensland when the malfunction occurred.

Their flume flipped after it came in contact with another carriage towards the end of the ride, tossing some of the passengers onto the conveyor belt, where they were caught in the machinery, Codd said on Wednesday morning.

He said the two girls are traumatized and being cared for by their family, adding they were lucky to be alive.

Investigators examine the ride and the site of the accident.

Two men, ages 35 and 32, and two women, ages 42 and 38, were pronounced dead by police following the incident.

Police were called to the site after reports that "a number of people had been injured by a conveyor belt."

Gavin Fuller, acting senior operations supervisor for Queensland Ambulance Service, said the victims had sustained injuries that were not survivable, adding that "a number" of staff from the ambulance service had been "deeply affected by this terrible incident."

Inspector Tod Reid of the Queensland Police told reporters that an investigation is under way and police are trying to contact the victims' families.

Police inspect the scene after the accident.

Theme park closed

Dreamworld, located in Gold Coast, about 45 minutes from Brisbane, is the largest theme park in Australia. It includes animal attractions and more than 50 rides, according to its owner, Ardent Leisure.

In a statement, company secretary Alan Shedden said: "Dreamworld's focus and priority is with the families of those involved in this tragedy."

Craig Davidson, the park's CEO, announced its closure at a news conference following the accident.

Condolences and shock

Emergency vehicles are seen in front of Dreamworld after a ride malfunctioned.

US Olympian Matthew Centrowitz tweeted that he had just stepped off the ride when he learned that there were injuries.

"Dude! Just got off a ride 15 mins ago that has 1 person seriously injured & 2 others trapped. #Dreamworld," the track star's tweet read. The death toll was updated after Centrowitz' tweet posted.

News Courtesy: www.cnn.com