Kate Goodchild died in partner’s arms at Dreamworld tragedy as families consider legal action

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Shayne Goodchild, father of Kate and Luke - two of the four people who died - spoke alongside David Turner, Kate’s partner of 15 years.

Mr Goodchild said he was equally devastated by the loss of Luke’s partner, Roozi, who he considered to be “another son”.

He also expressed his condolences to the family of the fourth victim, Cindy Low.

“Like everyone else in Australia, we want to know what went wrong,” Mr Goodchild said.

“We want to know why our loved ones were taken from us in such horrific circumstances.

“No-one wants those answers more than we do.”

Mr Goodchild detailed the horrific circumstances in which his adult son and daughter died.

“Kate’s tragic death has not only devastated Dave, her partner of 15 years, but it has also left her two beautiful daughters, Ebony and Evie, without a mum,” he said.

“Dave was standing next to the ride holding Evie when this tragic event happened, and Ebony was sitting next to her mum when they were thrown into the water.

“David not only has to deal with his own grief, but be strong for their beautiful daughters.

“Our darling Evie, is only 8 months old, and far too young to be without her mum.

“And he must be a rock for his old daughter Ebony, who saw her mum’s life taken.

“Our darling Ebony is only 12.”

Mr Turner’s mother, Gillian Turner, last night ­described how her son had watched in horror as the theme park ride carrying his partner and Ebony flipped right in front of him.

His childhood sweetheart was trapped and badly hurt, but Ebony was miraculously thrown clear.

After making sure his daughter was safe, a sobbing Mr Turner rushed to his wife, carrying their eight-month-old daughter Evie in his arms.

Kate died in his arms as he cried desperately, while a distraught Ebony screamed for her mother.

“My son managed to get to Kate who died in his arms with him and my granddaughter screaming and looking on,” Ms Turner said.

“We are all numb and in shock. We cannot believe something like this could have happened.

“We are all helping each other as best we can and we are all grieving.”

Battling her emotions, Ms Turner called for answers as she spoke to Ten News from her home in Canberra and described the tragedy on the Thunder River Rapids ride as “devastating and horrific”.

“I would like to think that my granddaughter (Ebony) was saved to be able to tell her eight-month-old sister what a wonderful mum Kate was. We can’t understand … we want to find out what happened and why.

“When you think it’s a ride that two-year-olds can go on ... how can something like this happen?”

Ms Turner said Kate’s warmth would be missed by all who knew her.

“She was warm-hearted, kind, generous, funny, quirky and she had lots of friends,” she said.

Also killed in the same raft were Kate’s brother Luke Dorsett, 35, and his partner Roozi Araghi, 38.

Kate and Luke’s mother, Kim Dorsett, told the Herald Sun the family was considering legal action, subject to the findings of the coronial inquest, and that her granddaughter was coping with the support of family and friends.

“As for myself and Kate’s partner ... I still don’t really think it has set in,” she said. “I kind of still expect it to be a bit of a bad dream.”

Mum of two Cindy Low, 42, from Sydney, also died in the tragedy as her son Kieran, 10, also on board, was flung to safety.

Her husband Mathew is suffering “intense grief”, work colleagues say, as he struggles to comfort their distressed son and daughter Isla, six, who also witnessed her mother die.

A colleague said: “He is building a wall around his children and trying his hardest to protect them.”

Mr Low issued a family statement saying they were “devastated” by Cindy’s death.

“The family are traumatised and kindly request that their privacy be respected as they try to come to terms with this tragic loss,” he said.

“No further statements will be made at this time of intense grief.”

Mrs Low’s father Tony Cook and a younger sister have travelled to the Gold Coast to help console ­Mathew and the couple’s two young children.

As the families struggle to cope with their loss, ­investigators are piecing together what went wrong.

Two of the dead adults were reportedly trapped on the conveyor belt while the other two drowned.

If you would like to donate to the family of Kate Goodchild tap here