The mother of a man who desperately tried to save the lives of those who died in the Dreamworld raft disaster has been accused of stealing most of his $179,000 compensation payout.
Four people died when two rafts collided and partially capsized on the Thunder River Rapids Ride in the popular Gold Coast park on October 25, 2016.
Kate Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett and partner Roozi Araghi from Canberra, and Sydney mother-of-two Cindy Low, died after being thrown from the rafts onto a mechanized conveyor.
Thomas William Hanson, who has since received a bravery award, was just 16 at the time and had visited the theme park with his family from Western Australia.
He boarded the ride moments before the tragedy and sprang into action when disaster struck.
Mr. Hanson received a personal injury compensation settlement for the incident, which his mother, Michelle Lisa Hanson, is accused of stealing much of.
Michelle Lisa Hanson (pictured) is accused of stealing most of a compensation awarded to her son after he was involved in the Dreamworld raft disaster in 2016.
Four people died when two rafts collided on the Thunder River Rapids Ride at the popular Gold Coast theme park on October 25, 2016.
She was initially charged with fraud in May 2021 before pleading not guilty. That charge has since been changed to robbery.
His case has now been submitted for a seven-day trial at Perth District Court in March next year, with a mention set for January, the mail reported.
Hanson’s attorneys have said she intends to fight the charge.
His son received a bravery award this week as part of the Australian Governor-General’s Group Gallantry Commendation.
Hanson, now 24, managed to grab a baby from the raft in front of him and return it to its mother, who was standing in line.
Kate Goodchild (pictured left) and her brother Luke Dorsett (right) died in the Dream World tragedy.
He then jumped into the water to try to save the victims.
“I was expecting to see people swimming in the water after being thrown off the ride…without seeing the things I saw,” he told ABC.
Hanson has undergone years of therapy after the incident and says certain noises still trigger him.
“There’s still an image… a constant image that keeps coming up,” he said.
One of the victims, Mr Dorsett, also received a bravery award for his actions that day.
“Mr. Dorsett immediately placed his arm over his niece to prevent her from falling off the raft,” the bravery quote read.
“Sadly, however, Mr Dorsett fell from the raft and tragically died at the scene after becoming trapped on the journey.”
Roozbeh ‘Roozi’ Araghi, 38, (pictured) died when Dreamworld’s Thunder River Rapids attraction malfunctioned in October 2016.
Danny Haber was also recognized for his bravery. He was waiting in line for a fun ride in the park when he heard screams and ran toward danger.
He attributes his response to a previous 21-year naval career. “We are trained to run towards noise rather than away from it,” he told AAP.
What he saw before him was a catastrophic spectacle, with bodies in the water and children screaming.
“We thought we were entering the safest attraction at one of the safest theme parks in the world and it turned out to be the scariest day of our lives,” Haber said.