The 10-year-old son of a Kansas state lawmaker died Sunday on a water slide billed as the world's largest at a water park in Kansas City, Kansas, according to officials and the boy's family.
Authorities did not immediately identify the boy who died at Schlitterbahn Waterpark, in Kansas City, Kansas, but Kansas 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. The slide's name means "insane" in German.
Winter Prosapio, spokesperson for Schlitterbahn, said the boy died on the park's main attraction, the Verruckt, a 168-foot-tall water slide.
“We are saddened to share that a young boy died on Verruckt this afternoon,” Prosapio said at a press conference. "Given that safety is our first priority, we have closed our Kansas City park and we have closed the ride pending a full investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time."
Police and Prosapio did not provide details of how the child died.