KANSAS CITY, Kan.—The young son of a Kansas state lawmaker died 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 Sunday 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.
