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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National

Man missing, feared dead, at Uriarra

A view of the Murrumbidgee River from Tharwa. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

A man has gone missing at Uriarra after it is believed he entered the Murrumbidgee River's fast-running water on Thursday.

The man is believed to be David Turner, the husband and brother-in-law of three Canberrans who lost their lives in 2016 when a ride at Dreamworld malfunctioned.

An ACT Policing spokesperson said officers are continuing to search the area after the man's car was found at Uriarra East Recreation Area car park three days ago.

"ACT Policing, with assistance from the ACT State Emergency Service, has since completed a ground search of the area," a spokesperson said.

"AFP Maritime Divers and Search and Rescue have continued to search the Murrumbidgee River as it is believed the man may have entered the fast-running waters."

"The family has requested privacy at this time."

The Dreamworld disaster rocked the nation's capital with three of the four victims being Canberrans and working in the public service.

Last year, nearly four years after the incident, charges were laid against the company behind the iconic Gold Coast theme park.

Ardent Leisure were charged with three counts of failing to comply with health and safety legislation and exposing individuals to a risk of serious injury or death.

A $3.6 million fine was also issued to the company after it pleaded guilty to the safety charges.

Dreamworld executives responsible for the park's safety escaped individual prosecution.

In February, coroner James McDougall referred the company to the Office of Industrial Relations, saying there was a "systemic failure" at Dreamworld in all aspects of safety.

The inquest also found there had been no thorough engineering risk assessment of the Thunder River Rapids in the 30 years it was open to the public.

Dreamworld presented itself as a modern, world-class theme park, but its "frighteningly unsophisticated" safety procedures were "rudimentary at best", he said while delivering the inquest findings.

Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett and his partner Roozi Araghi were killed in October 2016 when a water pump on the ride malfunctioned, causing water levels to fall dangerously low.

  • Lifeline: 13 11 14
  • Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
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