World’s tallest waterslide will be TORN DOWN after ten-year-old boy was decapitated in 70mph horror crash
Caleb Thomas Schwab died in August on the Verruckt ride in Kansas City, which drops visitors 17 stories
THYE tallest waterslide in the world is to be demolished after a 10-year-old boy was decapitated on it.
The 168ft-tall "Verruckt" attraction in Kansas, USA, was the scene of the horrific death of a state lawmaker's son last summer.
Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts and the family that runs it said in a statement that the ride at the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City will be permanently removed from after a probe into the theme park tragedy is completed.
"In our opinion, it is the only proper course of action following this tragedy," the statement read, adding that "all of us at Schlitterbahn have been heartbroken over the tragedy that occurred on Verruckt".
The ride — billed as the world's tallest waterslide — has been closed since Caleb Thomas Schwab died August 7.
An anonymous source close to the probe previously revealed the lad was decapitated in the accident.
Two other riders in the raft, both women, were also injured.
Attorneys for Caleb — son of Republican state Representative Scott Schwab — and the women are independently investigating the accident.
No charges or lawsuits have been filed as of Tuesday.
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Verruckt – German for "insane" – featured multi-person rafts that dropped 17-stories at speeds of up to 70mph.
The rafts then surged up a hump before making a 50ft descent to a finishing pool.
Riders, who were required to be at least 54 inches tall, were strapped in with two nylon harnesses similar to a car seatbelt.
Each strap was held in place by long straps that close with fabric fasteners, rather than buckles, while riders held on to ropes inside the raft.
Riders were also weighed to ensure each raft carried between 400 pounds (181kg) and 550 pounds (250kg).
Safety rules for waterslides and other rides have faced scrutiny following Caleb's death.
Kansas is known for its light regulation of amusement park rides, and the Texas-based company that operates Schlitterbahn lobbied legislators to help ensure that it remained responsible for its own inspections.
Kansas mandates annual inspections of permanent amusement park rides but allows private inspectors to do the checks, rather than requiring a state inspection.
A document released by the state Department of Labour after Caleb's death showed that all of Schlitterbahn's rides passed private inspections in June.
Lynn Johnson, an attorney for the women injured while accompanying Caleb in a raft, said in August that his clients "want answers and assurances from Schlitterbahn that that slide will be corrected or not continue to be in operation".
"If necessary, there will be litigation,"; he said then.
Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts said in its statement Tuesday that it has been cooperating with investigators and the victims' families and attorneys, noting that "the safety of our staff and our guests is our top priority".
"In our 50 years of providing an environment for families and friends to gather," the statement read, adding that the company has "never experienced this kind of devastating event."
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