# 10 year old boy dies on Verruckt waterslide @Schlitterbahn KC **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 8, 2016, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113 "2016-08-08T04:33:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/1 "2016-08-08T04:33:19Z")
Story here : [Home](http://m.wsfa.com/wsfa/db_383190/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=YlqFskuC) Following this closely as the company has plans for a South Florida park in the next few years. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/2 "2016-08-08T14:01:57Z")
What kinds of replies are you looking for? If he had not been the son of a state elected legislator, do you think anyone would know about this? Did the child die of natural causes, or for reasons related to the amusement park activity? ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/3 "2016-08-08T14:20:13Z")
As the article states fairly clearly, the kid died on the ride. The fact that he is the son of a state legislator is not really significant, except that it was “elected officials day” and he and his family got in free. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/4 "2016-08-08T14:24:25Z")
The story went national before the boy was identified. It’s just one of those “every parent’s nightmare” stories, and it happened in a unique place. I don’t think anyone has any idea yet about the cause of death. The fact that the father is a state legislator probably means that the park is going to get an extra level of scrutiny in the investigation, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/5 "2016-08-08T14:26:30Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > What kinds of replies are you looking for? If he had not been the son of a state elected legislator, do you think anyone would know about this? Did the child die of natural causes, or for reasons related to the amusement park activity? Just looking for updates, rumors, ongoing discussion…has any doper been on this ride? Sure, it’s difficult to say whether the news would have reached me if his dad wasn’t a KS State Rep, but, this is MPSIMS, right? Verruckt is the tallest waterslide in the world, and already had quite a few safety concerns that delayed its opening. There’s talk that there were issues with the velcro harness, and some eyewitness reports say the protective netting either decapitated the boy, or possibly sliced him in half at the waist. Needless to say, a horrible tragedy, but worthy of discussion, no? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/6 "2016-08-08T14:32:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Henry then called the ride, “dangerous, but it’s a safe dangerous.” He said Schlitterbahn “is a family water park, but this isn’t a family ride. It’s for the thrill seekers of the world, people into extreme adventure.” > **[Kansas water park closed after boy dies on 'insane' slide](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/08/08/kansas-water-park-closed-after-boy-dies-insane-slide/88386086/)** > > Police in suburban Kansas City were trying to figure out how a 10-year-old boy died on the world's tallest water slide. So why is a 10 year old boy riding this? “people into extreme adventure” would seem to require an 18 year old minimum age requirement. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/7 "2016-08-08T16:03:12Z")
According to CNN, someone reported that she had ridden it several times, and the harness wasn’t correctly closed any of the times [why did she continue to ride it?]. It was also reported that there wasn’t any minimum age or height. The boy apparently went down the first hill, then flew off at the top of the second hill. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/8 "2016-08-08T16:19:10Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > [Kansas water park closed after boy dies on 'insane' slide](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/08/08/kansas-water-park-closed-after-boy-dies-insane-slide/88386086/) > > So why is a 10 year old boy riding this? “people into extreme adventure” would seem to require an 18 year old minimum age requirement. Because it’s not actually supposed to be dangerous. That’s just marketing nonsense. It’s certainly possible to design a water slide that goes fast and feels scary without being dangerous. Presumably, that’s what they meant to do here. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/9 "2016-08-08T16:24:51Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > It was also reported that there wasn’t any minimum age or height. The local news just ran a story on this. There is a minimum height - 54" - and each raft must have a total gross weight of 400 pounds. There was a minimum age requirement - 14 - when it opened. > [@](#): > > The boy apparently went down the first hill, then flew off at the top of the second hill. One reason the opening was delayed was that rafts tended to become airborne over the second hill. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/10 "2016-08-08T16:31:50Z")
Some comments about the Velcro straps in the Kansas City Reddit forum: > [@](#): > > [–]halfbowl 53 points > > My adult brother rode it earlier in the season and said the Velcro harness came undone and had to hold onto the belt with his hands the rest of the way down to keep from flying off the raft. This is unfortunate… > > [–]halfbowl 35 points > > Yeah, my brother expressed concern to the lifeguards at the top and end of the ride, but no fucks were given. > [@](#): > > [–]Moal 19 points > > I heard that park employees were also partially responsible. Apparently the velcro-straps (yes, velcro…) on the ride weren’t working earlier today (and apparently haven’t been working properly this whole season). Lots of people complained about it and even reported it to the KCPD before the accident, and nobody at Schlitterbahn did anything about it. They basically ignored their concerns and kept letting people onto the ride. And then this happened. Ugh. > [@](#): > > [–]mother\_of\_catsKC 3 points > > We rode Verruckt yesterday. Even cracked jokes about the Velcro seat belts… Some of them were rusted and looked like they were about to rip off of the foam raft. The slide operator said to us: “do you think we would let people ride this if anyone died?” Creepy foreshadowing. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/11 "2016-08-08T16:35:17Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > each raft must have a total gross weight of 400 pounds. Make that “at least 400 pounds”. And preferably less than 550. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/12 "2016-08-08T16:43:42Z")
One story I read said that the minimum was two riders and three hundred pounds. But how much could that little 10 year old weigh? And if he was with only one other, smallish person, they probably didn’t even come close to the weight requirement. Add in faulty restraints and teenagers supervising the ride / desire to keep it running for revenue purposes, and you have a disaster on your hands. Geez, I can’t even. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/13 "2016-08-08T17:14:01Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > The fact that the father is a state legislator probably means that the park is going to get an extra level of scrutiny in the investigation, of course. [Kansas was chosen because they didn’t have a height restriction, so free-market style.](http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/26/travel/worlds-tallest-water-slide/) > [@](#): > > “We have long experience in building water park rides and developing new technology. Our park in Kansas City doesn’t have a height restriction so we decided to put it right here.” Scott Schwab, the legislating father, also sponsored Kansas’ HB2203 (Relating to exercise of religion. ) [which states:](http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2014/b2013_14/measures/documents/hb2203_enrolled.pdf) > [@](#): > > Nothing in this act shall be construed to: > Impair the fundamental right of every parent to control the care > and custody of such parent’s minor children, including, but not > to, control over education, discipline, religious and moral instruction, > health, medical care, **welfare,** place of habitation, counseling and psycho- > logical and emotional well-being of such minor children as set forth in > the laws and constitution of the state of Kansas and of the United States; So it was up to the parent to decide what a child may or may not do. [Even if they choose to be gay.](http://cjonline.com/news/state/2014-03-29/kansas-shying-spotlight-gay-marriage-drama#) > [@](#): > > Rep. Scott Schwab, R-Olathe, said opposition to gay marriage would persist in Kansas because Christian ideals of the state’s founders prevail. Evidence can be found in the state’s conservative approach to liquor and abortion, as well as ideas of traditional marriage between a man and woman, he said. > > “On sexual orientation, it’s a choice,” he said. “It’s a lifestyle choice.” ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/14 "2016-08-08T18:35:36Z")
**stpauler** Do not politicize this child’s death, and do not drag in a debate about gay marriage and sexuality into this thread. **Any** posts politicizing this tragedy will receive warnings. > [@stpauler](#): > > [Kansas was chosen because they didn’t have a height restriction, so free-market style.](http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/26/travel/worlds-tallest-water-slide/) > Scott Schwab, the legislating father, also sponsored Kansas’ HB2203 (Relating to exercise of religion. ) [which states:](http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2014/b2013_14/measures/documents/hb2203_enrolled.pdf) > > So it was up to the parent to decide what a child may or may not do. [Even if they choose to be gay.](http://cjonline.com/news/state/2014-03-29/kansas-shying-spotlight-gay-marriage-drama#) ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/15 "2016-08-08T18:46:57Z")
I thought it was a firm rule that theme park rides should never have negative Gs. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/16 "2016-08-08T18:49:27Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > I thought it was a firm rule that theme park rides should never have negative Gs. For roller coasters and such, I’m not sure. But for a water slide, definitely. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/17 "2016-08-08T19:05:29Z")
This slide was just on the new Science Channel show “How to Build Everything”. They definitely talked about the tuning required of water flow, gradient, rider weights, etc. to prevent the raft from flying off the track when it goes over the 2nd hill. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/18 "2016-08-08T19:21:59Z")
_Verruckt_ is one of the few Swiss-German words I know. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/19 "2016-08-08T19:43:10Z")
> [@Mixolydian](#): > > Story here : [Home](http://m.wsfa.com/wsfa/db_383190/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=YlqFskuC) > > Following this closely as the company has plans for a South Florida park in the next few years. “Verruckt” means “crazy” or “insane” if I recall my high school German correctly (that’s all I can think to add about this tragic story). ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113/20 "2016-08-08T19:54:27Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > This slide was just on the new Science Channel show “How to Build Everything”. They definitely talked about the tuning required of water flow, gradient, rider weights, etc. to prevent the raft from flying off the track when it goes over the 2nd hill. This sounds like an epic screwup. Even if the sled is properly weighted, that doesn’t mean it will stay properly weighted. If someone were to fall out as it launched, that would likely mean everyone would be in grave danger. Obviously the fallen passenger might get hurt, but the riders still in the sled probably wouldn’t have enough weight to keep the sled down as it went over the 2nd hill. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113.md?page=2)