Perhaps, in lieu of security clearance, climbing the steps should be made a prerequisite to running for President.
Posted on 08/08/2016 11:19:01 AM PDT by Wolfie
Lawmaker's Young Son Dies on 'World's Largest' Water Slide
he 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.
Authorities did not immediately identify the child who died at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas, but state Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife released a statement saying it was their son Caleb Thomas Schwab.
"Since the day he was born, he brought abundant joy to our family and all those he came in contact with," said the statement, which asked for privacy as the family grieves.
Schlitterbahn spokeswoman Winter Prosapio said the child died on one of the park's main attractions, Verruckt, a 168-foot-tall water slide that has 264 stairs leading to the top.
Verruckt, which means "insane" in German, was certified as the world's tallest water slide by Guinness World Records. Riders go down the slide in multi-person rafts and have to be at last 54 inches tall, according to the park's website.
Officials haven't provided specific details about what led to Caleb's death. Kansas City, Kansas, police spokesman Officer Cameron Morgan said he did not have any information, and Prosapio said more details would be released later.
"We honestly don't know what's happened," she told reporters at a news conference. "That's why ... a full investigation is necessary. We have to understand what's happened."
The park will be closed Monday, and the ride will be closed pending the investigation, Prosapio said.
Authorities initially said the victim was 12 years old, but Clint Sprague, a pastor who is acting as a spokesman for the family, said Caleb was 10.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
How can that soft net be safe. I can imagine somebody sticking their hands up and snagging it. Makes you wonder if this could have been part of the problem. Kid stuck his hands up, got snagged in the net and yanked him out of his raft so violently that it killed him. Terrible tragedy.
I don’t see how age could be a factor. Height is the only requirement that I’ve seen on rides. How could they possibly verify ages and what difference would it make?
The slide goes down, then up over a crest and back down again. He went airborne at the crest, and into the edge of a protective net that covers the down-sloping sections. I guess the net must have stoped him “cold,” and the sudden decelleration either broke his neck or caused massive internal injuries.
This is so sad.
Witnesses reported problems getting the safety belts secured properly. They believe he may have bounced out and hit his head on the metal and died from a head wound, maybe broken neck.
I don’t think violating an age restriction is going to save their bacon. Bad optics at trial. Hope the demand is not unreasonable, and pay it.
We do waterparks every year. No way I would do that or let my kids do it
The Swiss are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to designing and manufacturing roller coasters.
This doesn’t appear to be a Swiss design.
Awaiting autopsy results no doubt
Perhaps the kid was too small and slipped right through the harness (narrow shoulders?). Okay, enough speculating.
Bad optics or not, what kind of horrible parenting that they allow clearly underage kid to rise one of the scariest rides in the world? Don’t answer that.
Dat place be flaat.
Perhaps, in lieu of security clearance, climbing the steps should be made a prerequisite to running for President.
“Witnesses describe the boy going down the steep 168-foot drop of the world’s tallest water slide Sunday afternoon, then going airborne over the next hill, colliding with a safety net,” KSHB reported.
A section of netting on the far side of the second hill was removed by a fire crew after the incident, presumably to preserve evidence. The blue raft was also taken into custody.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/08/08/insane-tragedy-kansas-boy-dies-on-worlds-tallest-water-slide/
Holy cow.
cerebral hypoxia
I never could go on that ride. My knees lock up on the fourth level of our local fire tower.
I was white-knuckled climbing the Slide for Life at Benning. Going down wasn’t so bad.
Action Park was fun.
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