The boy killed on at a Kansas City, Ks. water park has been identified as Caleb Schwab, son of Kansas state representative Scott Schwab.
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“It is with an absolutely broken heart we have to ask for prayers for the Schwab family who suddenly and tragically lost their sweet and energetic son in an accident today”.
The young son of a Kansas state lawmaker died Sunday on a water slide that is billed as the world’s largest, according to officials and the boy’s family.
Few details have been released about Caleb’s death on the 168-foot-tall Verruckt, one of the top attractions of Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas.
Police and Prosapio did not provide details of how the child died.
The park will be closed Monday, and the ride will be closed pending the investigation, Prosapio said.
Verrückt riders are required to be at least 54 inches tall, according Schlitterbahn’s website. As we try and mend our home with him no longer with us, we are comforted knowing he believed in his Savior, Jesus, and they are forever together now.
The slide requires two to three riders to be strapped in a raft with a total weight between 400 and 500 pounds.
Verrückt, which means “insane” in German, was certified as the world’s tallest water slide by Guinness World Records.
State Sen. Pat Pettey of Kansas City said the park provided a buffet lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs and thanked elected officials for their service to the state and their communities.
“We honestly don’t know what’s happened”, said spokesperson Winter Prosapio, who added, “To be honest, this is not something we’ve experienced”.
The park was closed Monday amid the investigation.
The Verruckt – a German word for “insane” or “crazy” – drops riders nearly 169 feet at 65 miles per hour.
Prosapio said Sunday that the park’s rides are inspected daily and by an “outside party” before the start of each season.
The statute goes on to list rides included in the definition and rides not included. The slide has been plagued with safety and operational concerns since opening in 2014, but had continued public operation after numerous fixes.
He said: “They are an awesome, resilient family, full of faith”. It was not immediately known whether Caleb met the height requirement.
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“Until we have those facts it’s too early to specify what we can do legislatively”, Smith said.
