This article originally appeared on Marie Claire.
Girl 'Blames Herself For Mother’s Tragic Dreamworld Death'
The 12-year-old girl who miraculously survived the horror accident on the Thunder River Rapid ride that killed her mother and three others on Tuesday is naturally devastated and, even more heartbreakingly, is wrongly blaming herself for her mother’s death, according to newspaper reports today.
A family friend told News Ltd she is struggling to cope and is “just terrible” after innocently convincing her mother to go on the ride with her.
“This is something that will be with her for life — it will take a long time for her to be okay,” she tells News.com.au.
“She’s blaming herself because she wanted to go on the ride — they didn’t and she insisted. It will be a long road to healing.”
Further details have since emerged about the moment her mother, Kate Goodchild died, with her husband, David Goodchild, dived into the water to try and save his wife.
Mr Goodchild had been waiting outside the ride with the couple’s eight-month-old daughter when the accident occurred.
He managed to reach his wife, and she died in his arms.
"My son managed to reach his partner ... who died in his arms while their 12-year-old daughter looked on screaming in the background," Mr Goodchild’s mother, Gillian Turner told media in a statement.
"My son and Kate were childhood sweethearts and she will be missed incredibly.
"Kate is irreplaceable, she is not only going to be missed by my son and grand-daughters but by a lot of people."