Outrage Follows 10-Year-Old’s Death On ‘World’s Largest Water Slide’

What 10-year-old boy wouldn’t jump at the chance to fly down a massive water slide?

It’s hard to deny the allure of Verrückt (the German word for “insane”), the world’s tallest water slide and three-person raft that plummets straight down 168-feet at about 45 miles per hour. Yet after tragedy struck at the slide’s home, Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas, people are outraged that such a wild ride, apparently meant to attract “thrill-seekers” even exists.

On Sunday, 10-year-old Caleb Schwab plummeted to his death, suffering a neck injuring and getting decapitated on Verrückt during a trip to the park with his father, State Representative Scott Schwab and his wife, Michele.

Witness Kelsey Friedrichsen tells ABC News, “It looked like he must have somehow been ejected from his seat, bounced around between the netting and the slide and just slid down. He would have fallen down without the raft.”

Caleb was riding with two strangers when it’s likely his belt came undone and he fell out of the raft in a devastating accident.

When the ride opened in 2014, co-owner and Verrückt creator Jeff Henry told USA Today of safety problems. “We had many issues on the engineering side. A lot of our math was based on roller coasters at first, and that didn’t translate to a water slide like this. No one had ever done anything like this before.”

The ride, which is taller than both the Statue of Liberty and Niagara Falls is so terrifying, even it’s creator didn’t feel safe. “I’m still recovering mentally. It’s like jumping off the Empire State Building. It’s the scariest thing I’ve done,” he continued.

 

The park has since been shut down while an investigation into the boy’s death and the safety of the park continues. While some will undoubtedly argue that Caleb shouldn’t have been allowed on the ride, it’s important to remember we know very little about how the decision came about and not to blame his devastated parents.

Are you angry about this terrible tragedy? Let us know in the comments and please SHARE this boy’s story to remember him and help protect others.

[Featured Image: ABC News]

Outrage Follows 10-Year-Old’s Death On ‘World’s Largest Water Slide’ is an article from: LifeDaily