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Ravenshoe explosion: daughter of cafe owners dies in hospital Ravenshoe explosion: daughter of cafe owners dies in hospital
(about 2 hours later)
The daughter of the owners of a north Queensland cafe that was destroyed by a fiery explosion has died in hospital.The daughter of the owners of a north Queensland cafe that was destroyed by a fiery explosion has died in hospital.
Nicole Dempsey, 37, who was in the Royal Brisbane and Women’s hospital’s intensive care burns unit, was pronounced dead just before 5am on Friday.The mother of two, who owned a fudge shop, was managing the Serves You Right Cafe while her parents were holidaying in Europe when a ute ploughed into the premises in Ravenshoe, south-west of Cairns, and hit gas bottles, causing them to explode. Nicole Nyholt, 37, who was in the Royal Brisbane and Women’s hospital’s intensive care burns unit, was pronounced dead just before 5am on Friday.The mother of two, who owned a fudge shop, was managing the Serves You Right Cafe while her parents were holidaying in Europe when a ute ploughed into the premises in Ravenshoe, south-west of Cairns, and hit gas bottles, causing them to explode.
Dempsey bore the brunt of the blast and was put on life support after suffering burns to 80% of her body and inhaling smoke. Nyholt bore the brunt of the blast and was put on life support after suffering burns to 80% of her body and inhaling smoke.
Her parents, Vicki and Hans Nyholt, rushed home from the Netherlands to be at her hospital bedside, reportedly arriving in Brisbane on Thursday night.Her parents, Vicki and Hans Nyholt, rushed home from the Netherlands to be at her hospital bedside, reportedly arriving in Brisbane on Thursday night.
The driver of the ute, a 60-year-old Ravenshoe man, and 19 other people were taken to hospitals around the state for treatment. Seven were still in a critical condition on Friday morning.The driver of the ute, a 60-year-old Ravenshoe man, and 19 other people were taken to hospitals around the state for treatment. Seven were still in a critical condition on Friday morning.
Police investigations are continuing into whether the driver was suffering from a medical condition when the crash occurred.Police investigations are continuing into whether the driver was suffering from a medical condition when the crash occurred.
On Thursday a Ravenshoe chamber of commerce member, Ken Jack, said the community was still reeling. “If you didn’t know someone in the cafe, you were someone who was helping someone in the street,” Jack told reporters.On Thursday a Ravenshoe chamber of commerce member, Ken Jack, said the community was still reeling. “If you didn’t know someone in the cafe, you were someone who was helping someone in the street,” Jack told reporters.
“We still don’t have the list of who was injured, but everyone is totally affected because they helped or know someone involved. I hate to say it was a bomb scene, but people were lying in the street with the local bank manager over them, helping them.”“We still don’t have the list of who was injured, but everyone is totally affected because they helped or know someone involved. I hate to say it was a bomb scene, but people were lying in the street with the local bank manager over them, helping them.”
He said the chamber had started a fundraising campaign to help the burns victims’ long road to recovery.He said the chamber had started a fundraising campaign to help the burns victims’ long road to recovery.
“This is going to be a long, hard road,” he said. “We thought the best way to help would be to focus on their long-term recovery – burns are horrible and take a long time to heal.”“This is going to be a long, hard road,” he said. “We thought the best way to help would be to focus on their long-term recovery – burns are horrible and take a long time to heal.”
Acting premier Jackie Trad said the government’s thoughts were with Dempsey’s family and those who remained in hospital. Acting premier Jackie Trad said the government’s thoughts were with Nyholt’s family and those who remained in hospital.
“This was a young woman doing her job and it’s just a tragic freak accident,” Trad told ABC radio.“This was a young woman doing her job and it’s just a tragic freak accident,” Trad told ABC radio.
“For all of those people throughout Queensland hospitals – our prayers and thoughts are with all of them.”“For all of those people throughout Queensland hospitals – our prayers and thoughts are with all of them.”