10-Year-Old Boy Dies On “World’s Largest Waterslide”

Image courtesy of Schlitterbahn Kansas City

Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, KS, closed Sunday and will remained shuttered on Monday following the death of a 10-year-old boy on the park’s main attraction — The Verruckt.

KCTV-5 reports that the young boy died in an accident involving what is billed as the “wold’s largest” waterslide — which looms 17 stories in the air – on Sunday.

Authorities say the death appears to be an accident, but details on exactly what happened have not yet been released.

Schlitterbahn officials confirmed the boy, the son of a state legislator, died on the ride, and that a “full investigation” would be conducted.

“We honestly don’t know what’s happened,” a spokesperson for Schlitterbahn tells KSHB. “That’s why an investigation, a full investigation is necessary. We have to understand what’s happened.”

The company noted in a Facebook post that the Verruckt will remain closed until further notice.

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

Verruckt opened in 2014 after facing months of issues during testing. Shortly before the slide was supposed to open, engineers delayed the debut to reconfigure portions of the ride, including the height and angles of some hills.

Riders have to be at least 54 inches tall and the weight of the four-person raft needs to be between 400 and 550 pounds, KSHB reports.

Other park guests tell KSHB that they experienced issues with the harness on the ride.

“A lady in front of me said that multiple times she rode the ride today, the Verruckt, and that the front harness did not work any of the times that she rode it,” one guest said.

10-year-old boy dies at Schlitterbahn water park [KSHB]
Couple offers small gesture of humanity to family after son’s death at Schlitterbahn [KCTV-5]

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