A NEWLYWED bride has died on her honeymoon in a horror golf buggy accident.
Marina Morgan, 29, and her new husband Robbie were on a dream holiday when their buggy overturned while trying to do a U-turn on June 20.
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Mr Morgan, who was driving, was uninjured but his new wife died at the scene.
The accident took place on Whitsunday Boulevard at the northern end of Hamilton Island, Queensland, Australia.
A doctor, an off-duty dentist and an off-duty firefighter all desperately tried to save her, performing 35 minutes of CPR, but nothing could be done.
The couple, from Strathfield in Sydney, had got married just 10 days previously.
Queensland Police Inspector Anthony Cowan said the death was a “tragic accident,” while speaking to the media, and added there was “no indication of alcohol or dangerous driving”.
“It was just a tragic accident with a golf buggy,” he said.
“There may have been some inexperience driving those type of vehicles while turning it has rolled on its side and the woman has fallen out and sustained life-threatening injuries.”
“It just appears inexperience in driving that type of vehicle, turned too quick and rolled on its side and unfortunately, it has ended up with this result.”
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Inspector Cowan confirmed the woman was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.
“It appears there was no seatbelt worn at this point in time; we come back to the Fatal Five but now is not the time to dwell on what they should have done.”
Inspector Cowan, confirmed Robbie did perform a U-turn, and that he may have performed the move because the vehicle’s battery was running low and he wanted to return to a charging point.
“While turning around the buggy went on its side. No collision, no other vehicles involved and no indication of dangerous driving or alcohol,” he said.
‘TRAGIC ACCIDENT’
Graeme McIntyre, Queensland Ambulance Service Acting Director for the Mackay District, said a paramedic arrived at the scene within minutes and found the woman off the road and had been put in a “lateral position to clear her airway”.
“(She) was in cardiac arrest and along with a number of first aiders on the island – an off-duty dentist, off-duty fire officer, and doctor from the island – performed resuscitation for 35 minutes without success,” Mr McIntyre said during a press conference on Tuesday.
He added: “It was very confronting especially on Hamilton Island and in this instance we have to wait with the deceased person until police are able to collect the person.
“So it is quite confronting emotionally for paramedics involved.”
Golf buggies are the main means of transportation around the popular tourist destination which covers 740 hectares.
Around 30 per cent of Hamilton Island has been developed into accommodation, attractions and restaurants with the other 70 per cent in its natural state.
A statement from Hamilton Island confirmed the incident and said their “deepest thoughts” are with the family and friends of the woman who died.
“Hamilton Island can confirm there was a serious single vehicle incident involving a golf buggy yesterday afternoon which tragically resulted in the death of a 29-year old woman,” the statement read.
“Our deepest thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the woman involved in this tragic incident.
“Golf buggies are required to be operated in accordance with Queensland Road rules and requirements on Hamilton Island.
“Our highest priority is the safety and wellbeing of our guests, residents and staff and we are working closely with Queensland Police to investigate the incident.”
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