Young Boy Dies on World’s Tallest Water Slide

A 10-year-old boy has tragically died after a terrible accident at the world’s tallest water slide.

Caleb Schwab was killed on Sunday on the Verruckt, a towering water slide at Kansas City’s Schlitterbahn water park, and the park originally refused to give details on what happened to the boy, except to say that the slide was closed after his death.

US officials and police have now launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the boy’s death in the 17-storey ride.

A police spokesman said investigators were treating the death as a “civil matter” rather than a criminal incident.

The park’s website says two to three people are usually strapped to a raft and then sent down a heart-stopping 51.4 metres. They are then “blasted back up a second massive hill and then sent down yet another gut-wrenching 15-metre drop for the ultimate in water slide thrills.” Riders should be at least 137cm tall.

In a statement, the park has been closed as the investigation is ongoing.

“Given that safety is our first priority, we have closed the Kansas City park today and Monday and have closed the ride pending a full investigation.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time,”  the park said in a statement.

The Kansas City Star said the park was full children of legislators and their parents enjoying free passes when the accident occurred.

Reports from witnesses today are emerging that the young boy was “decapitated” as he flew off the waterslide and hit the safety net. Kansas City Police confirmed the boy had died from a ‘fatal neck injury at the end of the ride.’  Other ride participants were also injured, prompting suspicions that the harnesses were faulty or broken.

The Verruckt, which means “insane” in German, opened in July 2014 and was certified as the world’s tallest water slide by Guinness World Records.

Source: Dailytelegraph.com.au