Crime & Safety
10-Year-Old Boy Dies on World's Tallest Water Slide
The boy was riding the "Verrückt," which means crazy or insane in German.
KANSAS CITY, KS — A Kansas City water park remained closed on Monday following the death of a 10-year-old boy who was riding the world's tallest water slide.
The boy, identified by his family as Caleb Schwab, was riding "Verrückt" at Schlitterbahn Water Park on Sunday. "Verrückt" translates from German into crazy. The ride has been closed pending a full investigation.
Caleb was the son of state Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife Michelle Schwab. The parents issued a statement Sunday night confirming their son had died.
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"Since the day he was born, he brought abundant joy to our family and all those who he came into contact with," the statement said. "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. We will see him another day."
The statement was posted to a GoFundMe page that is raising money for Caleb's funeral expenses. Schwab, a Republican, represents Kansas' 49th district. He served his first term in 2003 and started his current term in 2009.
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The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear. Park spokeswoman Pam Renteria told USA Today it was not immediately clear if the boy fell from the ride.
The ride permits two to three riders per raft with a combined weight of between 400-550 pounds. Riders have to be at least 54 inches tall in order to get on the water slide.
"Adventure seekers will be able to share this experience as they strap into a 3 person raft that will slide down a jaw dropping 168 foot 7 inch structure, only to be blasted back up a second massive hill and then sent down yet another gut wrenching 50 foot drop for the ultimate in water slide thrills," a description on the Schlitterbahn website says.
In a brief statement, Kansas City police said they are investigating a death at the park but did not provide any further details.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time," the park said in a statement.
Image via Schlitterbahn Water Park
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