Son Of Kansas State Rep. Scott Schwab Killed In Accident At Kansas City Water Park

KANSAS CITY, Kan (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The child who died at a Kansas City, Kansas water park has been identified as the son of a state lawmaker.

Authorities did not immediately identify the boy who died at Schlitterbahn Waterpark on Sunday, but Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife released a statement saying it was their son Caleb Thomas Schwab.

The statement thanked the community for an "outpouring of support and compassion'' after his sudden death. It asks for privacy as the family grieves.

"Since the day he was born, he brought abundant joy to our family and all those he came in contact with. As we try to mend our home with him no longer with us, we are comforted knowing he believed in our Savior Jesus, and they are forever together now. We will see him another day,"  Schwab said.

Officials said the boy died on the park's main attraction, the Verruckt, a 168-foot-tall water slide. In German, the ride's name means insane.

As CBS2's Kenneth Craig reported, parkgoers were asked to leave after the accident on Sunday.

"We honestly don't know what's happened, that's why a full investigation is necessary. We have to understand what's happened," Winter Prosapio said.

Water park officials did not release specifics on the boy's death.

"Right now our focus is with the family, our thoughts and prayers are with them," Prosapio said.

Verruckt riders have to be at least 54 inches tall. They climb 264 steps to get to the top, and descend in 100-lbs, multi-person rafts.

A co-owner and designer told USA Today in 2014 they used roller coaster calculations to design the ride, but it didn't translate well to a waterslide.

They decided to tear down half of Verruckt and rebuild it to reconfigure some of the angles.

In a promotional video, two men riding down a half-size test model went slightly airborne as they slid down the first big hill.

"All our rides are inspected, everyday actually," Prosapio said.

Park officials said the ride will remain closed pending a full investigation. The park will also remain closed tomorrow.

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