The park will be closed Monday, and the ride will be closed pending the investigation, Prosapio said.
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The state, though, has no direct jurisdiction over parks like Schlitterbahn. “We owe it to this child’s family”, said Nancy Cowles, executive director of Kids in Danger, a nonprofit that works to improve safety related to children’s products. Cameron Jacobs, spokesman for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, says there are well-defined international standards for the safe design, construction, maintenance operation and inspection of water slides. The state Department of Labor is required to randomly audit inspection records.
Caleb Schwab died Sunday at the Schiltterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas.
Meanwhile, residents of Olathe were mourning the loss of their state representative’s son.
Leslie Castaneda, who was at Schlitterbahn on Sunday, told The Kansas City Star that she saw Calebs crumpled shorts or bathing suit at the bottom of the ride, along with blood on the slides white descending flume.
Park officials said that the amusement park would remain closed at least until Wednesday and the water coaster will be shut down as the matter is investigated.
Authorities are conducting an autopsy of a 10-year-old boy killed on a Kansas waterslide billed as the world’s largest.
Paul Oberhauser told television station KCTV that when he went on the ride in July, the safety restraints were not working properly.
Kenneth Conrad told WDAF-TV that he rode the waterslide past year with a friend whose shoulder strap came “completely off”.
Matt did not complain to the park at the time.
The park’s spokeswoman didn’t return messages Tuesday from The Associated Press seeking comment on the claims.
Those inspectors, though, were not required to send their reports to the state.
The family’s pastor, Clint Sprague, held a news conference at 5:30 p.m., on Monday to announce funeral plans. According to ABC 7, a memorial service for Caleb is planned for Friday, August 12. It opened in 2010, one of five water parks operated by the New Braunfels, Texas-based corporation, Schlitterbahn Waterparks & Resorts. Police said they were investigating the case as an accident.
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The KDOL also stated: “The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and Secretary Lana Gordon wish to extend our continued thoughts and prayers to the Schwab family during this incredibly hard time“. The young boy was one of three passengers strapped in a raft. They suffered minor facial injuries and were treated at an area hospital, police said. Officials said he suffered a fatal neck injury, and was dead by the time first responders reached him.
