Caleb Thomas Schwab, the son of a Kansas lawmaker, reportedly died while riding the world’s tallest water slide on Sunday, at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas.
Police spokesman Officer Cameron Morgan said he does not yet know the circumstances of Caleb’s death.
Olathe Representative Scott Schwab and his wife Michele released a statement following the death of their son.
“Since the day he was born, he brought abundant joy to our family and all those he came in contact with,” said the statement, adding that they would like privacy as their family grieves.
Kansas authorities described the victim as 12 years old at first, but Clint Sprague, a pastor who is acting as a spokesman for the family, said Caleb was 10.
Police said Caleb died while riding the Verrückt water slide, which uses the German word for “insane” in its title, and set a Guinness Book of World Records for being the world’s tallest water slide.
According to the park’s website, a three person raft slides down a “jaw dropping” 168 foot structure, and “blasted back up a second massive hill…then sent down yet another gut wrenching 50 foot drop for the ultimate in water slide thrills.”
Riders must have a combined weight of 400 to 550 pounds and a height of at least 54 inches.
A spokeswoman for Schlitterbahn claimed the park’s rides are inspected every day and are checked by independent inspection agencies at the beginning of the season.
The waterpark was cleared after the accident and closed while investigators from various agencies arrived on scene.
The Verrückt water slide is now shut down pending a full investigation.
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