Canberra, Oct 28 (IANS): Australia's largest theme park, Dreamworld, will remain closed until the funerals of all the victims killed at a Gold Coast ride on October 25 had, a park official said on Friday.
"I would like to confirm that under the instruction of Ardent Leisure's Chief Executive Deborah Thomas that no parts of the park will reopen until at least after the funerals of the four persons who tragically lost their lives," Dreamworld's Chief Executive Craig Davidson said in a statement.
Davidson also said that rides will remained closed until an internal and external safety audits were conducted on every attraction in the park, Xinhua news agency reported.
"With regard to misreporting of the operation of the Thunder River Rapids ride, Dreamworld will not be able to comment further on the record beyond what it has already been said," Davidson said.
"The ride operator in control of Thunder River Rapids was an experienced operator with the competency, experience and training to operate that ride," he said.
Dreamworld had originally planned to hold a memorial service on Friday before resuming business on Saturday, however those plans were thwarted by the Queensland police late on Thursday who wanted the park to remain close for investigations.
The tragedy which received worldwide attention had claimed the lives of two women, 42-year-old Cindy Low and 32-year-old Kate Goodchild along with Goodchild's brother Luke Dorsett, 35, and his partner Roozbeh Araghi, 38, who all died after the Thunder River Rapids, a water-raft ride flipped backwards.
The theme park has been closed since October 26 for police investigations.