Posted on 08/10/2016 9:34:14 AM PDT by PROCON
Was he properly buckled in?-—video of operation shows method of securing riders-—if he slipped out of straps he was too small to ride the unit in the first place-—maybe he got on because his dad was a politician?——let us get the whole story before we condemn the park owners-—I raised 8 kids and know the tricks they can play to get their way for things-—
Agreed. I can’t imagine how Caleb’s parents are feeling right now. All the guilt they’re piling on themselves for thinking he was safe at this park when he wasn’t. All the coulda-shoulda games going on in their heads.
I am praying for their healing and praying for their loss.
Apparently the shoulder strap or harness had a Velcro closure which came loose. This happened to an adult man earlier this year and he had to hang on with all his strength to stay in the float or raft in which he was riding.
There is a much better article about this accident on the Christian Post
“Caleb Schwab, the 10-year-old son of Christian Republican Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab, who died at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City on Sunday while riding the Verrückt, known as the world’s tallest water slide, was decapitated during the ride, local police and eyewitnesses confirmed on Monday.
Information released by police in Kansas City said Caleb, who has been described as a faithful Christian and athlete, suffered a “fatal neck injury.” He was found dead in a pool at the bottom of the slide and police confirmed with People magazine that the boy was decapitated.”
Amen to that. Prayers are needed. The Family is well known and respected. They have faith and hopefully that will help ease the pain and burden the carry from this incident.
There is plenty of coverage in the KC area of the incident. It won’t be pretty for the water park that reopened today. The ride is closed.
With all due respect to his parents, would you let your 10 year old go on a 17-story water slide? I, for one, would not.
It is bizarre.
No matter what the outcome here was, tens if not hundreds of thousands of other people have ridden this ride without injury.
Now there may be some minor injuries, but evidently nothing indicating this could happen.
This is very unfortunate.
If the park is found to have hidden danger and not eliminated it, some folks should wind up in prison.
Not looking for a witch hunt. Sometimes bad things happen no matter what steps you take to prevent them.
That is the big question. The riders are secured with hook and loop (Velcro) straps and everyone who has ever dealt with Velcro knows that after a while the loops break and the holding ability of it is reduced.
Well, technically decapitation IS a neck injury. So not lying, just being “diplomatic” I’d say...
The park is called “Schlitterbahn”, the ride is called “Verrukt”.
Velcro is a quick connect / disconnect so more riders = more $$
That will change if the ride stays open.
There are videos from before the ride was modified that show sandbag-weighted rafts flying off the slide.
Saw an aerial photo yesterday showing what looked like red water at the base of the ride.
With all due respect to his parents, would you let your 10 year old go on a 17-story water slide? I, for one, would not.
nope...but that said, I cannot imagine their agony at this time...
Was watching the national news yesterday. ABC I think. Showed photos of two adult men, earlier on same ride, whose shoulder harnesses came off. One interviewed said he had to wrap/hold his legs and or arms tight. He said he told the operator.
That is such a disaster for the parents. It is so sad.There is no rhyme or reason to anything.
Really, velcro? That’s gonna be a huge lawsuit then.
It’s standard on roller coaster rides nowadays for the harnesses to lock in place without any straps that can come loose, or if there is a strap, it’s secured with a solid latch like on a seatbelt. I would guess they can’t use all the same materials for water rides, due to corrosion issues, but velcro is about the stupidest design choice I could imagine.
That's weaslespeak for someone who knows what happened, but isn't the park's official spokesman. The AP is just covering its butt.
Decapitation would fall under a broad category of neck injury I suppose.
Stainless-steel tends to be corrosion-resistant.
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