Two women who were horribly burned by a wildfire during an ultra-marathon in remote Western Australia will each receive payments of Aus$450,000 (US$468,090), the state government said Tuesday.
Runners Turia Pitt and Kate Sanderson were left with serious and disfiguring injuries after the fire swept through the 100-kilometre (60-mile) Racing the Planet footrace in the Outback Kimberley region in 2011.
“No one can truly appreciate the pain, suffering, and disfigurement that Miss Pitt and Miss Sanderson have endured, and will continue to experience for the remainder of their lives,” said state Tourism Minister Kim Hames.
Pitt, who is in her mid-20s, has to wear a compression suit over her face, neck and body and lost four fingers and a thumb. Sanderson, in her mid-30s, had her left foot amputated due to the burns.
An official inquiry into the ultra-marathon found “critical shortcomings” by the race’s Hong Kong-based organisers, and urged the state to consider some form of financial compensation to help with the runners’ ongoing treatment.
It noted that the state government’s tourism authority had sponsored the event and stood to gain if it had been a success by using footage of the race to promote the region.
Hames said the state government’s decision to make an “act of grace” payment did not mean it accepted legal or moral responsibility for the tragedy.
Four runners were badly burned when fire trapped them in a gorge in the El Questro Wilderness Park, including the two women who suffered critical injuries.
But Hames said no other runners would be offered payments.
“While the government is sympathetic to their injuries, it is of the view that their circumstances are not so extraordinary as to warrant an act of grace payment,” he said.
Greg Walsh, lawyer for the four competitors, has previously said he intends to sue Racing the Planet for more than Aus$10 million on Pitt’s behalf alone.
The former model and engineer has already incurred $3 million in medical costs and is facing another 10 rounds of surgery for her injuries.
Australia marathon fire victims to get payouts
