QLD:Grieving mum tells of Qld boat tragedy

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2011
QLD:Grieving mum tells of Qld boat tragedy

GOLD COAST, April 6 AAP - Three young girls were having the time of their lives before
two were killed in a horrific boating accident in Queensland, a grieving mother says.

Dodie Wilson, 12, is in a critical condition in a Brisbane hospital after Tuesday's
accident, which killed her older sister Paris, and an American exchange student, both
16.

The girls were riding on a "biscuit" tube being towed behind a boat when the vessel
turned, flinging them onto a bank and into a tree at Goondiwindi, in southern Queensland,
on Tuesday.

Sandy Wilson, Paris and Dodie's mother, told The Australian her other daughter Bianca,
17, was driving the boat when the incident happened at the Goondiwindi Natural Heritage
and Water Park.

"There was perhaps a small judgement error with the boat turning point. The girls were
flung up the bank of the water park," said Ms Wilson, who gave permission for her daughters
to be named.

Ms Wilson said the two girls had died "pretty much on impact" but the girls had been
having the "time of their life" before the tragedy.

She told the paper Bianca had a full speedboat licence.

Dodie was taken in a critical condition to Brisbane's Mater Children's Hospital on
Tuesday night, with severe head injuries.

An investigation into the incident is continuing.

Goondiwindi Mayor Graeme Scheu said the council-owned park was extremely popular and
serious accidents were rare.

"It's a well-utilised facility and it's just, as I say, tragic to see something like
this happen," he told the ABC.

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KEYWORD: TUBE

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